NBCUniversal is developing a new series based on the hit show Suits, following its unexpected streaming success over the summer. The original drama, which starred Meghan Markle as paralegal Rachel Zane, will now have a companion show set in the same legal drama world but with new characters and a different setting.
The creator of Suits, Aaron Korsh, is reportedly in the early stages of developing the new show, which will not be a reboot or sequel. Sources have suggested that the new series will be set in Los Angeles, in contrast to the original show’s New York City setting.
Suits surprised viewers by spending 12 consecutive weeks as the most-streamed title in the United States, according to Nielsen data. Its popularity on streaming platforms such as Netflix and NBC’s Peacock led to over 2.3 billion minutes of viewing time.
This new series will be the third spin-off following the one-season show Pearson, which starred Gina Torres and was set in Chicago. The original Suits, which had 134 episodes spanning nine seasons, gained popularity on Netflix and attracted viewers with its binge-worthy content.
Meghan Markle starred in Suits from 2010 until her final episode in the seventh season, which aired in April 2018, a month before her wedding to Prince Harry. In September, Markle’s co-star Patrick J Adams sparked speculation about the show’s return by sharing behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram.
Fans were delighted by the photos and expressed their hopes for a reboot or another season. Although the show experienced a decline in ratings over the years, the addition of Meghan Markle did not significantly impact the viewership. Season 8, which aired without Markle and Adams, averaged 1.2 million viewers, slightly lower than the seventh season.
Despite Suits being canceled after its ninth 10-episode installment in January 2019, the show has seen a surge in viewership on streaming platforms. Since its release on Netflix, it set a viewing time record for an acquired series, accumulating 3.14 billion minutes of watch time during the week of June 26-July 2.
With the continued success and demand for the original show, the new Suits spin-off is highly anticipated. Fans can look forward to more legal drama and captivating storylines in the same beloved Suits universe.