This is the kind of thing that makes me shake my head. I'd have to imagine that what these guys are going to make is going to be so far from the Perry Mason that people knew that it makes more sense to just create a new show. I mean, it's not like Perry Mason had some crazy backstory that separated it from most legal shows.

And RDJ's name carries more weight than Perry Mason anyway.

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/08/robert-downey-jr-nic-pizzolatto-perry-mason-hbo-1201717160/

Nic Pizzolatto may not be involved with “True Detective” season three — which itself is still far from a certainty — but his involvement with HBO is far from over. Along with Robert Downey Jr., the writer and producer is in talks with HBO for a new drama project. Variety first reported the news.

Few concrete details are known about the project, though it looks to be related to the “Perry Mason” reboot that Downey Jr. was previously developing with Warner Bros. as a feature film for several years. (This project, whatever it is, will be a series.) The two will executive produce along with Susan Downey, with Pizzolatto writing and RDJ starring — his first television role, should it come to pass, since his high-profile role in Ally McBeal some 15 years ago.

Raymond Burr starred in the original incarnation of “Perry Mason” on CBS from 1957 to 1966. Pizzolatto is best known for creating “True Detective”; the first season, all eight episodes of which were written by Pizzolatto and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, received near-universal acclaim, while last year’s sophomore season proved divisive.

But seriously, I don't see why it isn't just positioned as all new show. There hasn't been a Perry Mason TV movie in almost 25 years. I doubt HBO's core audience has some of connection to the character.

>Few concrete details are known about the project, though it
>looks to be related to the “Perry Mason” reboot that
>Downey Jr. was previously developing with Warner Bros. as a
>feature film for several years. (This project, whatever it is,
>will be a series.) The two will executive produce along with
>Susan Downey, with Pizzolatto writing and RDJ starring — his
>first television role, should it come to pass, since his
>high-profile role in Ally McBeal some 15 years ago.
>

Despite the fact RDL has been printing money as Iron Man in however many movies he's done as that character, he still couldn't get a passion project of his off the ground as a movie.

Interesting.

I have nothing else to add other than I wonder if this will be Pizzolatto's last chance on HBO if this flops.