'L.A. Law' Sequel in the Works at ABC
by EG
For a time in the 80s and 90s, legal drama L.A. Law was one of the hottest series on television. Now a sequel to the series featuring a new generation of lawyers will try its luck in the new TV landscape. The reboot, which will likely feature some appearances by some of the original cast, is officially in the works at ABC. Read on for details.
Via Deadline.
L.A. Law has taken a major step in its TV comeback. ABC has given a pilot green light to a new incarnation of the iconic Steven Bochco legal drama. The project, which had been in the works at the network since December, is headlined by Blair Underwood, reprising his role as attorney Jonathan Rollins in addition to executive producing.
The sequel pilot is written/executive produced by Marc Guggenheim — who is a lawyer by trade — and Ubah Mohamed, and executive produced and to be directed by Anthony Hemingway via Anthony Hemingway Productions. In it, the venerable law firm of McKenzie Brackman reinvents itself as a litigation firm specializing in only the most high profile, boundary pushing and incendiary cases. Underwood’s Jonathan Rollins has gone from idealistic to more conservative as he clashes with millennial JJ Freeman to decide the best path forward for the firm to effect political and legal change.
While the focus will be on the new generation of lawyers at the firm working with Rollins, other original cast members would likely make appearances should the pilot go to series.
Bochco’s son, TV director-producer Jesse Bochco, who played a key role in putting the project together, and the late producer’s widow, Dayna Bochco, executive produce via Steven Bochco Productions. 20th Television, which was behind the original series, is the studio.
L.A. Law sequel had been moving very slowly through the decision-making process at the network. In the past couple of months, there was mounting pressure on ABC to make a decision soon as a number of the key creative auspices, including Underwood and Hemingway, had been approached for other projects and couldn’t stay in limbo for much longer.
Get the rest of the story at Deadline.