Netflix’s slick legal thriller The Lincoln Lawyer is revving up for its fourth season, and the just-released trailer has fans gripping their steering wheels in anticipation. Titled “Framed and Hunted,” the promo paints a pulse-pounding portrait of defense attorney Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) ensnared in a frame job that turns him from slick lawyer to prime suspect overnight. With a confirmed premiere date of February 5, 2026, the 10-episode arc—adapted from Michael Connelly’s The Law of Innocence—promises courtroom showdowns, personal betrayals, and a high-octane chase through Los Angeles’ underbelly that could make or break Haller’s empire. After Season 3’s gut-wrenching cliffhanger left Mickey arrested with a corpse in his Lincoln’s trunk, the trailer delivers the payoff: a web of corruption that forces him to defend himself while dodging hitmen and unraveling who set him up.

The two-minute trailer, unveiled during Netflix’s Tudum global fan event on October 10, opens with Haller’s signature ride screeching to a halt under flashing cop lights. “You’re under arrest for murder,” a detective snarls, as blood seeps from the trunk. Cut to Haller in an orange jumpsuit, pacing a cell, his trademark swagger cracking under the strain. “I didn’t kill him—I was framed,” he growls to his ex-wife and prosecutor Andrea Freeman (Neve Campbell), who’s torn between duty and doubt. Quick cuts flash betrayals: a shadowy figure tampering with evidence, a late-night meeting gone wrong, and Haller’s driver Izzy (Jazz Raycole) whispering, “They’re coming for you.” The stakes skyrocket with glimpses of a car chase through Mulholland Drive and a tense courtroom reveal where Haller, representing himself, unmasks a mole in his inner circle. It all builds to Haller’s defiant voiceover: “In this town, justice isn’t blind—it’s bought. Time to collect what’s owed.”

Based on Connelly’s 2020 novel, Season 4 flips the script: Mickey isn’t just arguing cases from the back of his Lincoln—he’s the client, battling a murder rap tied to a high-profile client’s death. The book’s plot, which hit bestseller lists amid the pandemic, explores themes of innocence presumed guilty in a system rigged for the powerful. Showrunners David E. Kelley and Ted Humphrey, who’ve helmed the series since its 2022 debut, weave in original twists: Haller’s team—loyal investigator Cisco Wojciechowski (Angus Sampson) and now-licensed lawyer Lorna Crane (Becki Newton)—must operate underground, dodging surveillance while digging into a conspiracy involving dirty cops and corporate fixers. “Mickey’s always one step ahead, but this time, the game’s personal,” Garcia-Rulfo told TV Guide in a post-trailer interview, hinting at emotional fallout from Season 3’s losses, including the death of his mentor.

The ensemble bulks up with fresh faces to match the escalating drama. Newcomer Dana Berg (Sasha Alexander), a sharp-tongued district attorney with a grudge against Haller, clashes in cross-examinations that feel like verbal cage fights. Cobie Smulders joins as Special Agent Glory Days, an FBI wildcard who could be ally or informant, adding federal heat to the mix. Returning vets like Campbell and Newton shine in expanded roles—Lorna’s bar passage opens doors for her to lead subplots, including a side case involving witness tampering. “It’s a dream to play a woman rising in a man’s world of law,” Newton shared on Instagram, teasing scenes where she outmaneuvers bail bondsmen turned adversaries. Garcia-Rulfo, Emmy-nominated for his nuanced take on the opioid-addicted Haller, anchors it all, his rumpled charm giving way to feral desperation as the trailer shows him plotting from a prison library.

Filming wrapped in Los Angeles on June 17, 2025, after a four-month shoot that dodged wildfires and SAG-AFTRA residuals talks. Directors like Liesl Tommy (Respect) and Kari Skogland (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) helm episodes, bringing cinematic flair to procedural beats—think drone shots of the Lincoln barreling down freeways and dimly lit depositions crackling with subtext. The budget, estimated at $6 million per episode, funds practical stunts like the trailer’s explosive trunk reveal, shot on a closed 101 Freeway set. Post-production, including VFX for courtroom recreations, is in crunch mode to hit the February slot, a brisk turnaround from Season 3’s October 2024 drop.

The Lincoln Lawyer, inspired by Connelly’s 2005 novel and Matthew McConaughey’s 2011 film, has evolved into Netflix’s stealth hit, blending Better Call Saul smarts with Bosch grit. Seasons 1-3 racked up 200 million viewing hours, with Season 3 topping global charts for three weeks straight. Critics praise its timely jabs at systemic bias—Haller’s cases often spotlight wrongful convictions and police overreach—while fans devour the bingeable format, though Season 2’s split release drew gripes. “It’s not just legal jargon; it’s a mirror to real injustices,” Connelly said at a July book signing, noting how the show amplifies his books’ social edge.

The trailer’s drop ignited social media frenzy. On X, #LincolnLawyerS4 trended worldwide, with users dissecting clues: “That trunk shot? Chills. Mickey framed by his own client—genius!” one post raved, amassing 50K likes. Reddit’s r/TheLincolnLawyer dissected Glory Days’ arc—“Smulders as a fed? Plot twist incoming”—while TikTok edits synced trailer clips to tense scores, racking up millions of views. Some griped about the wait—“Early 2026? Netflix, mercy!”—but most hailed the visuals: “Trailer’s darker than Season 3. Haller hunted like prey? Sign me up.” Episode titles like “7211956,” “Baja,” “Bleeding the Beast,” and “Forty Hours” fuel speculation— “Baja” screams border-crossing thriller, per fan theories.

Challenges loomed during production: Garcia-Rulfo battled a minor injury from a stunt gone awry, delaying one shoot by days, and writers navigated strikes’ ripple effects. Yet, the team emerged stronger, with Humphrey teasing “Mickey’s most vulnerable yet” in a Radio Times chat. Netflix’s multi-season commitment eyes Seasons 5 and beyond, potentially crossing over with the Bosch universe—Connelly’s Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) cameos in books, and whispers of a shared episode swirl.

As February 2026 nears, The Lincoln Lawyer cements its rep as appointment viewing for legal drama die-hards. The trailer’s tagline—“Framed. Hunted. Unbroken.”—encapsulates Haller’s arc: a man who turns the system’s weapons against it. With betrayal lurking in every deposition and justice dangling like a faulty brake line, Season 4 could be the franchise’s pinnacle. Stream Seasons 1-3 on Netflix to gear up—Mickey’s ride is about to hit the guardrail.

What’s your theory on who framed Haller? The DA, a client, or someone closer? Hit the comments with your hot takes