Suits spin-off 'in development' as Meghan Markle series breaks records

13 October 2023 , 15:58

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Suits spin-off 'in development' as Meghan Markle series breaks records

A new Suits spin-off is reportedly in development following the legal drama’s renewed success on Netflix.

Meghan Markle's hugely popular legal drama recently became the first TV show to attract a whopping 3billion minutes viewed for seven weeks straight on Netflix. The show racked up 26.5 billion minutes watched in the two months since returning to our screens earlier this summer. But the record for the highest viewing total in eight weeks – 35.5 billion minutes - still belongs to last year's season four of sci-fi favourite Stranger Things.

With nine seasons to its name, Suits has stayed around 3billion minutes for longer than any programme since Nielsen streaming records began in 2020. Set at a fictional New York City corporate law firm, the high-flying TV series originally premiered on USA Network between 2011 and 2019, and also aired on Dave in the UK.

It follows an attorney named Mike (Patrick J Adams) who lands his dream legal job despite never attending law school. Markle also plays a lawyer - Rachel Zane - who falls in love with Mike.

The now-Duchess of Sussex portrayed Rachel in seven seasons before departing the series in 2018 ahead of her royal wedding to Prince Harry. In August, it was announced that Suits broke its very own record for the most-watched acquired title, with Nielsen data revealing the colossal 3.7 billion minutes watched from 3 July to 9 July across Netflix and NBC streaming service Peacock.

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And now Deadline reports that series creator Aaron Korsh is working on a new offshoot for NBCUniversal. Sources described the new series as being set in a 'Suits universe', in the vein of the CSI and NCIS franchises featuring new characters in a new location. The report adds that Los Angeles is being considered as the backdrop, rather than the original's New York.

Eight seasons, comprising more than 100 total episodes of Suits, returned to Netflix on June 17.

Paul Speed