David Astorga/NBCThe fast-talking, backstabbing, eclectic world of Suits is returning to TV screens with Suits LA, set on the opposite coast with a new set of characters.
The original series in the franchise, which aired from 2011-19, starred Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter, New York’s best lawyer, who partners with a brilliant college dropout in trouble with the law (Patrick J. Adams as Mike Ross). The series recently saw a huge resurgence in popularity after Netflix acquired it in 2023 (Suits became the most streamed show of 2024 on Netflix), as well as for having Meghan Markle, the current Duchess of Sussex, in its cast.
Fans of the original will be happy to learn that Macht will be reprising his role as Harvey Specter in a three-episode arc, as an acquaintance of new protagonist Ted Black, played by Stephen Amell, who has ditched his Arrow cape and Heels singlet to play the former NYC federal prosecutor who does an about-face and moves out to California to open his own law firm. Amell recently caught up with us to talk Suits and suits.
How close is this show going to be to the original?
Stephen Amell: There are going to be elements of it that are different because it’s set in a different world, and we are tackling different things. This is entertainment law, by and large. Some of the situations that you get into with entertainment law are pretty innately and naturally comedic. But the pacing, the sensibility — there are going to be elements that people recognize, and some people might think that we’re trying to copy it. We’re not trying to copy it. It’s made by all the same people. That same vibe exists, and it exists because it worked the first time. We’re not trying to replace anything. We’re just trying to make a fun show that people will enjoy.
Can you tell us a bit more about what’s behind Ted’s move from New York to Los Angeles?
Ted was a federal prosecutor and was dealing with organized crime in New York and was very happy there. And then a certain situation just went the wrong way for him, personally and professionally, and really blew up his world. When we meet Ted in the flashbacks, he almost mocks entertainment law. So, to see him where he is now in the present day, clearly something pretty drastic has happened.
How would you describe Ted’s relationship to Suits’ Harvey Specter?
Well, we both came up in the district attorney’s office, played a little baseball together, and beyond that, we don’t really know the extent of their friendship. Are they good friends? Were they acquaintances? Were they professional rivals, personal rivals? All of that stuff will be revealed.
Obviously, one former cast member is now British royalty, so a return is unlikely, but are there any plans to bring back any other characters from the original Suits?
Honestly, I don’t think you should ever say “never” in this business. But beyond Gabriel, I don’t know, actually. As a fan of the original show, I would obviously love to work with any of the cast members from the original.
What types of clients does he represent?
Ted represents the best of the best. The people that we’ve name-dropped thus far are Denzel [Washington], Matt Damon, Doug Liman, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. I don’t know if there’s a design behind that or if we’re really just trying to throw around names. In the pilot, we had John Amos playing himself, and then he obviously very tragically passed away some months ago.
How would you describe Ted’s moral compass? How far is he willing to go?
He’s willing to go far, but he does like to stay within the parameters of the law. He is maybe better able to compartmentalize the human element of things. But this is the world of Suits and this is the world of inter-office drama and politics and romance. He puts on a brave face for a lot of people, but behind the scenes, behind closed doors, there’s a version of Ted that he does not let anyone see. And that’s, for me personally, the most interesting part of the character.
This is a very different role for you, in terms of costuming anyway. How are you enjoying the change, and do you have a favorite suit yet?
I’m enjoying the change a lot. It’s very, very easy to feel like the coolest guy in the room when you’re wearing a bespoke suit that has been tailored within an inch of its life. My favorite so far is a beautiful Tom Ford suit. It’s a little thicker and it’s just an immaculate cut. The problem is that after wearing the suits of Ted Black for a month, I went out with my wife to a suit-and-tie dinner, and I grabbed my suit that I had at home, and I felt like an idiot. The degree to which a suit suits a person has precious little to do with the amount of money that it costs, or the designer. It really comes down to “Has it been properly fitted to your body?”
Suits LA premieres on NBC Sunday, Feb. 23, at 9pm ET/PT.
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