The story is based upon David Grann's article "Trial by Fire" that appeared in The New Yorker in 2009 about case Willingham v. State of Texas.

[3] The film stars Jack O'Connell, Laura Dern, Emily Meade, Jeff Perry and Jade Pettyjohn.

Trial by Fire had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2018, and was released on May 17, 2019, by Roadside Attractions.

At his trial, the prosecutor, John Jackson, reveals the fire had been caused deliberately, with gasoline spread in the shape of a pentagram and the refrigerator moved to block the kitchen door.

During his time on death row, Willingham is violently beaten and threatened by both inmates and guards before being placed in solitary confinement for his safety.

He adapts to his life in prison by submitting to the violent guard Daniels and befriending fellow death row inmate, Ponchai James.

Gilbert and Reaves meet with Dr. Hurst, who reveals the refrigerator had not been moved and that the fire could not have been arson, as the jury had been told and concluded.

In an epilogue and news footage, Texas Governor Rick Perry denies any guilt over ordering execution of inmates sentenced to death.

On August 8, 2017, it was announced that Jack O'Connell and Laura Dern would star in a feature film adaptation of the article "Trial by Fire" by American journalist David Grann.

The website's critical consensus reads, "Trial by Fire has a worthy and heartbreaking story to tell, but this well-acted dramatization is undermined by its aggressive manipulative approach.