Although viewers will have to wait forThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 4, actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo has acted in many other great TV shows and movies that fans can check out in the meantime. Netflix’shit legal dramahas garnered a massive fanbase, and fans cannot wait for more episodes to drop. One of the most endearing aspects of the show is the performance by actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who is truly the perfect Mickey Haller.
Unfortunately, it could still be a few months beforeThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 4 releases, leaving fans with a gap of time where they have to entertain themselves. Luckily, viewers who have fallen for Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s Mickey Haller can check out other TV shows and movies starring the actor. He truly is one of the most versatile actors out there.
Of all the Manuel Garcia-Rulfo shows to watch while waiting forThe Lincoln Lawyer, Prime Video’s Goliath is the most similar to the Netflix series. The show follows a Los Angeles-area lawyer named Billy McBride (Billy Bob Thornton), living with alcohol use disorder, who was formerly at the top of his field.
Between their career paths, their location, and their substance use disorders, the parallels between Mickey and Billy are undeniable. However, the similarities in the series go even further than that. Goliath was made by David E. Kelley, who is also the creator of Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, and his influence over both projects is noticeable.
However, The Lincoln Lawyer fans will be shocked to learn the role that Manuel Garcia-Rulfo plays in Goliath. His character, Gabriel, is a drug lord involved in a conspiracy, which makes him the exact opposite of Mickey Haller. The Lincoln Lawyer’s main character would be the person trying to expose Gabriel’s conspiracy if the two individuals existed in the same universe.
Four years before Manuel Garcia-Rulfo debuted in the role of Mickey Haller, he appeared in the hit movieMurder on the Orient Express, based on the titular book by Agatha Christie. The movie follows a world-famous detective named Hercule Poirot (played by Kenneth Branagh) who investigates 13 strangers aboard the Orient Express when one of the passengers is murdered.
While The Lincoln Lawyer leans into the legal side of justice, Murder on the Orient Express functions as a detective story. As such, they feel similar but very different too. Fans who enjoy the mystery aspect of the Netflix show will really appreciate the Agathie Christie adaptation, since everyone is suspicious, keeping viewers guessing.
Even though the story has some similarities, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s characters are incredibly different. Garcia-Rulfo plays Marquez, a morally dubious passenger aboard the Orient Express. While Mickey is honest and trustworthy, Marquel has plenty to hide.
When it comes to genre and narrative style,A Man Called Ottois nothing likeThe Lincoln Lawyer.The 2022 movie follows Otto (Tom Hanks), a 63-year-old suicidal widower who moves to the suburbs of Pittsburgh and finds an unexpected friendship with his neighbors Marisol and Tommy, two immigrants who move next door to Otto.
The tearjerking dramedy explores the highs and lows of being human. Although it received mixed-to-strong reviews from critics,A Man Called Ottoboasts an impressive 97% Popcornmeter rating (audiences) onRotten Tomatoes, based on over 5,000 reviews.
The Lincoln Lawyer’s lead actor plays Tommy, the husband of Marisol and the next-door neighbor of Otto. Though Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s character inA Man Called Ottohas a very different life from Mickey Haller, the two characters have a very similar demeanor. They’re hardworking men who are cheerful. He’s also a present father, loving his children like Mickey does withhis daughter Hayley Haller.
Before Manuel Garcia-Rulfo gained recognition forThe Lincoln Lawyer, he was best known for acting in the TV showFrom Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, which debuted on the now-defunct network El Ray Network before getting picked up by Netflix. The horror-drama, based on the movie by Robert Rodriguez, actually received high praise from critics and audiences, but it was canceled after just three seasons.
The show follows brothers Seth and Richie Gecko, who go on the run from the FBI after a deadly bank robbery, heading for the border of the United States and Mexico. They eventually take shelter at a bar run by drug lord Don Carlos. Unfortunately, the bar is home to snake-like vampires. One of the antagonists inFrom Dusk Till Dawn: The Seriesis Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s Narciso Menendez, a sadistic vampire.
Even if Mickey Haller were a vampire, he would be the absolute antithesis of Narciso.
FromDusk Till Dawn: The Seriesis another instance of Manuel Garcia-Rulfo playing a character who bears no resemblance to Mickey Haller. Mickey is loyal, kind, and gentle. However, Narciso Menendez is driven by his desire to harm and kill humans in the most painful ways possible. He’s extremely cruel and manipulative. Even if Mickey Haller were a vampire, he would be the absolute antithesis of Narciso.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is a member of the ensemble cast of the 2016 remake ofThe Magnificent Sevenalongside Chris Pratt and Denzel Washington. The story follows a ragtag group of seven gunslingers who are brought together to fight back against a greedy industrialist named Bartholomew Bogue, who has taken over the town of Rose Creek.
The Magnificent Sevenis a quintessential Western packed with gunfights and contrasting personalities. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s Vasquez fills the archetype of “The Outlaw.” He’s a robber who’s on the run from law enforcement. The character feels drastically different from Mickey Haller, proving his versatility as an actor.
What’s more, the 2016 movie falls into the Western genre, which is a fun change from the other shows on the list. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo has taken on dramas, mysteries, supernatural horrors, westerns. The possibilities are endless for him outside ofThe Lincoln Lawyer.
Besides Mickey Haller inThe Lincoln Lawyer, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s biggest title to date is the blockbuster film Jurassic World Rebirth, which has been amassive hit at the box office. The movie follows a group that goes to the Jurassic Park test island to collect samples from the largest land, water, and air dinosaurs (colloquial definition, not scientific). On the way, they save a stranded family whose boat was destroyed by the mosasaur.
Jurassic World Rebirthmight not be a perfect movie, but it does go a long way when it comes to reinvigorating theJurassic Parkfilm franchise. The human characters are just as compelling as the dinosaurs, allowing the audience to invest in the story.
In thecast ofJurassic World Rebirth, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo plays Reuben Delgado, a father who loves his daughters more than anything. He takes his daughters on a boat trip before his elder daughter goes off to college, and he even allows her boyfriend to come along, even though he’s pretty insufferable. He also has a very optimistic attitude. In both of these ways, Reuben feels extremely similar to Mickey Haller.
The final TV show or movie starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo that fans of The Lincoln Lawyer should watch is the 2024 Netflix filmPedro Páramo. The Mexican magical realism drama follows a son named Juan Preciado as he searches for his father,Pedro Páramo,in the village of Comala. What he finds is a town of death filled with the ghosts of the past and dominated by the titular character.
The 1955 book by Juan Rulfo is one of the most difficult books that anyone could adapt. There were also extremely high expectations since the book is iconic. As such, the fact that the movie was spectacular is a miracle. It perfectly captures the genre-blending and mind-warping aspects of the book, while also exploring important themes that still resonate today.
Actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who plays Pedro Páramo, is a distant relative of the book’s author, Juan Rulfo (viaNPR).
Any dissection of the character Pedro Páramo in comparison to Mickey Haller inThe Lincoln Lawyerwould spoil the story for those who haven’t read Juan Rulfo’s book. As such, you’ll just have to trust me when I say that the characters are extremely different. However, both are equally impressive performances by actor Manuel Garcia Rulfo.
The Lincoln Lawyer
Cast
The Lincoln Lawyer: This legal drama follows Mickey Haller, a Los Angeles defense attorney known for operating from his Lincoln Town Car, as he revives his career after an accident by taking on a high-profile murder case. The series explores challenges within the justice system and Haller’s pursuit of truth.
