‘LA Law’ sequel with Blair Underwood in the works at ABC – Deadline

by



[ad_1]

EXCLUSIVE: One of television’s most iconic legal dramas is about to return. ABC is growing LA law, a new incarnation of the Emmy-winning series Steven Bochco, with contestant Tony Blair Underwood set to reprise his role as lawyer Jonathan Rollins and executive producer.

Courtesy of Michael Lewis / Ubah Mohammed

New LA law is written / produced by The arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow co-creator / executive producer Marc Guggenheim and Arrow / Captions writer Ubah Mohamed, and directed / produced by Emmy winner Anthony Hemingway. In it, venerable law firm McKenzie Brackman reinvents itself as a litigation firm specializing in the most high-profile, compelling, and inflammatory cases. Underwood reprizes his role as Rollins, who has gone from idealist to more conservative as he takes on millennial JJ Freeman to decide the best way forward for the company to effect political and legal change.

While the focus is on the firm’s new generation of lawyers working with Rollins, I’ve heard that other members of the original cast would likely make appearances if the project goes to the series.

Bochco’s son, TV director-producer Jesse Bochco, who played a key role in setting up the project, and the late producer’s widow, Dayna Bochco, executive producer through Steven Bochco Productions. Hemingway’s production partner Simon Mirren and producer Dan Shaw are also part of the production team. 20th Television, which was behind the original series, is the studio.

Anthony Hemingway

photo: Wes Klain

Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, LA law aired for eight seasons on NBC, from 1986 to 1994, followed by a reunion movie in 2002. The show takes place in and around the fictional Los-based law firm McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak. Angeles. Many of the cases featured on the show dealt with topical issues such as capital punishment, abortion, racism, homophobia, sexual harassment, HIV / AIDS and domestic violence. Underwood joined the cast in Season 2 and remained on the series until its end, earning a Golden Globe nomination.

LA law won 15 Emmys throughout its run, including four for Outstanding Drama Series.

Underwood, nominated Tony 2020 for A soldier’s game, recently played a major role in the Netflix limited series Self Made: Inspired by the life of Madame CJ Walker opposite Octavia Spencer and on the streamer’s third season Dear Whites. The Quantico alum also appeared in Ava DuVernay’s Netflix limited series. When they see us Hulu Bad hair and the new Showtime drama Your Honor. Underwood, Emmy winner for the non-fiction series Give, is replaced by ICM Partners, Thruline Entertainment and Felker Toczek

It marks a return to legal drama for Guggenheim, a lawyer by profession who practiced for five years before pursuing a career as a writer. Her first writing job was on ABC The practice, created by another lawyer turned writer, LA law former David E. Kelley. Guggenheim also co-created with frequent contributor Greg Berlanti ABC legal drama Pierre Eli. Guggenheim became one of Berlanti’s top lieutenants in building the Arrowverse on the CW with stints as executive producer / showrunner on The arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, which he co-created. During his tenure, Guggenheim also led the franchise’s annual crossover events, most recently the massive ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’. Guggenheim is currently writing / producing Berlanti Prods. To come up The Green Lantern series for HBO Max as well as a Spider-Man Universe movie Jackpot For Sony and Prophet for Studio 8. It is replaced by Syndicate Entertainment.

Mohamed worked on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow since season 3 after co-writing an episode of The arrow. It is taken over by Gersh.

Hemingway recently finished production on Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha, of which he is executive producer and director. Thanks to Anthony Hemingway Prods., He is producing the next animated short Superficial alongside the 6-point harness. He is also attached to directing ABC’s Waiting to expire restarting the series. Hemingway also teamed up with Pose star Hailie Sahar for Sir Lady Java biopic and to direct college football drama Work horses in Amazon Works, written by Sheldon Turner. Hemingway is replaced by WME, Gotham Group and attorney Tom Hoberman.

Through Steven Bochco Prods., Jesse and Dayana Bochco are also producing the upcoming show Doogie howser to restart Doogie Kameāloha, MD, based on the series co-created by Steven Bochco, for Disney +. They also produced ABC’s 2019 NYPD blue pilot, based on the revolutionary crime drama by Steven Bochco.

UPDATE: Underwood reposted Deadline’s story with a note to LA law Fans:



[ad_2]

Source link