Actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo Talks Legal Drama ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller in Netflix's 'The Lincoln Lawyer.'

Premiering May 13th on Netflix is the new legal drama ‘The Lincoln Lawyer,’ which is based on the popular novels by Michael Connelly that were made into the movie of the same name starring Matthew McConaughey.

The new series stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (‘The Magnificent Seven’) as Mickey Haller, a defense attorney in Los Angeles who works out of a chauffeur-driven Lincoln Town Car rather than an office.

In addition to Garcia-Rulfo, the series also stars Neve Campbell (‘Scream’), Becki Newton (‘How I Met Your Mother’), Jazz Raycole (‘Waiting to Exhale’), Angus Sampson (‘Mad Max: Fury Road’), and Christopher Gorham (‘One Night in Miami’).

Moviefone recently had a chance to speak with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo about his work on ‘The Lincoln Lawyer.’

You can read our full interview with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Garcia-Rulfo, Becki Newton, and Christopher Gorham.

Moviefone: To begin with, how would you describe Mickey Haller?

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo: You know what? I think he's a man of a very few words. Honestly, he’s one of those guys that doesn't express his feelings very much, he is all about the work.

MF: Can you talk about why his nickname is “The Lincoln Lawyer?”

MGR: Well, because he works in the back of his car. That's where he has his office and he has everything there. He's a very practical guy and he's always had to be on the move, it makes him concentrate, I guess. You know, he's a man of the people and he has to be driving around all the time while he's working. So, they call him “The Lincoln Lawyer.”

I think that it's a part of him. But I don't think that if he doesn't have a Lincoln, he cannot be Mickey Haller. It's one of those things, like the suit for a superhero kind of thing. He is obsessed with them, but it’s more than that, it is like a lucky superstition, I think.

MF: What was your reaction when you got cast in the role?

MGR: I was so happy and really thrilled and excited to be a part of this. Especially as a Mexican actor, to be the lead on a show of this magnitude with these huge names like David E. Kelly. Also, to be part of the world of Michael Connelly and to play this loved and iconic character, Mickey Haller. So, for me, it was insane. I was so grateful and happy for it. I'm very proud.

(L to R) Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Christopher Gorham in Netflix's ‘The Lincoln Lawyer.'

MF: Can you talk about the specific book from the series that the first season of this show is based on?

MGR: It's based on the second book, “The Brass Verdict.” That's how we started. I can't say much, but we find Mickey Haller at the lowest point of his life. He's coming from addiction and he's been out of work for a couple of months now. They took his practice away. So, we find him in a very low point of his life. Then suddenly he gets a call and he inherits an amazing case, not just one but a bunch of them, but one specifically, which is a very huge case. So, all of a sudden, he has to deal with that. That's where everything starts and you guys have to watch.

MF: Finally, can you talk about how you prepared to play a lawyer?

MGR: How did I prepare? Well, I've watched a lot of real footage of trials, especially long hours of the O.J. Simpson trials. I really wanted to see how they move and everything. I had a lot of meetings and talks with defense lawyers here in L.A., but basically that was that. All the other information Michael Connelly gives you in the books, which is so specific, are really the details. He gives you a lot to play with. Then I had to learn all the legal terms and all of that because the legal system in Mexico and here are very different. So, it was new to me. I had to really dig into that, so I looked like I knew what I was talking about.

‘The Lincoln Lawyer' premieres on Netflix May 13th.

(L to R) Neve Campbell and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo in Netflix's 'The Lincoln Lawyer.'