Summary
Speculation arises about a potential link between Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix, as both share the same author and occasionally feature crossover characters.
Unfortunately, Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer are not linked in the streaming realm due to rights disputes between Amazon and Netflix, as author Michael Connelly has verified.
While LAPD Detective Griggs and Haller's investigator Cisco replace the character of Bosch in The Lincoln Lawyer, the significance of Bosch as an investigator perseveres in the series, even in the absence of a crossover.
Is there a connection between Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer in Netflix's adaptation of Michael Connelly's book series? In Connelly's books, Mickey Haller, a lawyer who operates out of his Lincoln car, is revealed to be the half-brother of Detective Harry Bosch, who has his own book series. With the prevalence of crossover franchises, it is natural to question if Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer are intertwined.
The Bosch series, which debuted in 1992 with The Black Echo, has made various appearances in Connelly's subsequent works. Meanwhile, the character of Mickey Haller was first introduced in The Lincoln Lawyer in 2005, which was then adapted into a film starring Matthew McConaughey in 2011. Both characters have crossed paths in each other's book series, leading to speculation about the possibility of Haller appearing in the Bosch: Legacy Netflix series.
The Lincoln Lawyer And Bosch Aren't Connected
Titus Welliver's Bosch appearing in Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer as season 1 adapted The Brass Verdict, the second book in The Lincoln Lawyer series and the first book that Detective Hieronymous "Harry" Bosch appears in, may seem highly likely. However, Michael Connelly has definitively addressed and answered this question in the negative. In the streaming world, Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer are unrelated.
The reason for the deviation from the books seems to be more of a rights issue rather than a choice based on the narrative. Due to Amazon holding the rights to Bosch and Netflix holding the rights to The Lincoln Lawyer, a crossover is not going to happen. In an interview (via AARP), Michael Connelly expressed his view on the possibility of a streaming crossover between Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer, stating, "Since we have competing studios, that's not going to be a thing in the shows." He further acknowledged the challenges and humorously added that "if we got Amazon and Netflix working together, we could also solve world peace."
The Lincoln Lawyer Splits The Bosch Character Into Two People
Mickey Haller does not make an appearance in Amazon's Bosch or its spinoff series, Bosch: Legacy. However, other characters have been introduced to replace the role of Bosch in these series. In Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer, the Bosch role is split between two characters: LAPD Detective Griggs, a character created specifically for the show, and Haller's lead investigator Cisco, a character from the books who takes on certain aspects of Bosch's storyline from The Brass Verdict.
In The Brass Verdict, Bosch plays a significant part in the investigation of defense attorney Jerry Vincent's murder. Mickey Haller inherits Vincent's successful law practice after his death. In Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer, Detective Griggs assumes Bosch's role as an investigator closely tied to the police. However, Cisco brings a more personal touch to the same investigation and his role is expanded compared to the original story of The Brass Verdict.
A Bosch And Lincoln Lawyer Crossover Would Likely Be Popular
Although there won't be a crossover between The Lincoln Lawyer and Bosch, the significance of Bosch as an investigator will continue to be present in the series. The Lincoln Lawyer novel series effectively branches off from the Bosch novels once the connection is made in The Brass Verdict, and it is nearly impossible to completely remove the essence of the Bosch character from the underlying storyline. However, while traces of Bosch will undoubtedly be found in The Lincoln Lawyer, the two shows are ultimately unrelated.
Although the creators of Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer have denied any plans for a crossover, it's highly probable that such a collaboration would gain immense popularity. Shared universes and crossovers have become prevalent in both television and film, ranging from superhero franchises like the MCU and the Arrowverse to smaller instances like Bob's Burgers and Archer, where the involvement of a common lead voice actor led to a crossover episode. These ventures have largely proven to be successful.
A potential Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer crossover could involve a character making appearances in both shows, much like how Maddy from Euphoria appeared in The Idol. This is simpler to achieve as both shows are created by the same person and air on the same network, unlike a crossover between Prime Video and Netflix. Regardless, fans can still hope for it, but both Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer have already achieved success independently.