Huge US drama returning to screens with spin-off series after record-breaking ratings

POPULAR legal-drama Suits is returning to screens with a new spin-off after record-breaking streaming success. 

Suits ran from 2011 to 2019, but it is now even more popular than ever thanks to streaming. 

The legal drama launched the TV career of future Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and was where she first caught the attention of Prince Harry.

It follows famous lawyer and “New York’s best closer” Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and his protégé Mike Ross’s (Patrick J. Adams) who has an incredible knowledge of the law, helped by his photographic memory, but with the minor detail of not having a law degree. 

With Meghan, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres, and Rick Hoffman rounding out the central cast, Suits quickly became a beloved show with a devoted fan base.

The hit series ended up running for nine seasons, seven of which starred the Duchess of Sussex, before it concluded in 2019.

The series has long been available for Netflix viewers in the U.K., but was also added to the streamer in the U.S. over the summer. 

It is also available on NBC's streaming platform Peacock in the States, which has allowed the legal drama to reach a greater number of viewers and, in turn, break streaming records. 

This year, Suits became one of the most streamed series in the world, despite having gone off air four years ago. 

Series creator Aaron Korsh took to social media to celebrate the streaming news: “I always thought we were underestimated, but it turns out, even I underestimated Suits. It’s good to be the King.”

As new audiences are finding the drama and long-time fans are rewatching the show, the demand for Suits is continuing to grow. 

The short-live spin-off Pearson, which followed Gina Torres’s recently disbarred lawyer Jessica Pearson in Chicago, did little to satiate fans. 

Aaron previously shared that he hoped to expand the Suits Universe with a prequel about original character Robert Zane (Wendell Pierce). He would have been “fresh out of law school in the early ‘90s.” However, the network was not interested in doing a prequel. 

Instead, NBCUniversal has commissioned a new legal-drama set in the same universe. 

Aaron is currently on board to create the new series, which is being fast-tracked after a “serious commitment” from the network, according to Deadline. 

Speaking about the upcoming series, he told Variety: “At this time, it would not be a spinoff, prequel, or sequel to the original show, but rather would feature entirely new characters in a new setting.”

However, it will definitely take place in the Suits Universe, following the same style as shows like CSI, NCIS, and the One Chicago franchise. 

is rumoured to be a possible setting for the new series, which makes sense with L.A.-based legal dramas like The Lincoln Lawyer currently exploding in popularity on Netflix. 

Suits fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to discuss their excitement about the new series.

One fan wrote: “We need more Suits!”

Another said: “This news is so welcome. It’s common sense to strike while the iron is hot and get the Suits Universe back on the air.”

However, some fans of the legal drama expressed concern that it just won’t be the same without the original cast. 

“We want the original cast,” one said.

“They should’ve made a Harvey Spectre spin-off with Mike after Suits,” added another fan.

“Gabriel Macht please come back so we can have a Suits spin-off in Seattle,” a third commented. 

However, bar a few guest appearances, it seems unlikely the original cast of Suits will be reuniting for a new legal drama. 

All nine seasons of Suits are available to stream on Netflix.