EXCLUSIVE: In one of the first buys for the upcoming development cycle, ABC has put in development Lawless, from Mistresses developer/executive producer KJ Steinberg and Shonda Rhimes‘ Shondaland. The project tells the story of Joanna James, a maverick lawyer who returns to her hometown to right the wrongs she left behind. It is inspired by the real life of crusading trucker-turned-lawyer Wynona Ward, founder of Have Justice Will Travel. Former victim of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, Ward got compelled at age 41 by the news of another child in her family getting sexually abused by relatives to go to college and law school and start a group that provides free legal representation and support services to victims of domestic violence in rural areas.
Steinberg is writing Lawless, which she is executive producing with Shondaland’s Rhimes and Betsy Beers in conjunction with UK-based producers Esther Douglas and Tara Cook. ABC Studios, where Shondaland is based, is producing. This marks a reunion for The Nine co-creator Steinberg and Shondaland. Two years ago, they teamed for Gilded Lilys, a period drama which also was an early buy at ABC and went to pilot. Gilded Lilys was one of two scripts Steinberg wrote during the 2011-12 development season. The other, an adaptation of the British drama Mistresses, received a straight to series order by ABC for this summer. The network recently left the show in contention for a second season by extending the options on the actors. ICM-repped Shondaland has two series on the air next season, ABC veteran Grey’s Anatomy and hot sophomore Scandal, both created by Rhimes. Douglas and Cook are with attorney Leigh Brecheen.
Just what I want to watch week to week… victims of domestic violence.
You mean like Law & Order: SVU? You know that show that has lasted for over a decade?
You (audiences) watch various programs where autopsies are routinely performed on scorched and mutilated corpses, but you’re too sensitive to see dramas about sexual abuse victims.?
I agree philosophically but, L&O: SVU made a fortune off the same gut reaction/compulsion people have to be see these things on TV. Is it tackling an issue or exploiting it? Dunno . In the end, it’s all about the $/ratings
Love it!!! Give em’ what they want!
Truck stop lawyer!!!!!
Get out of the fuckin’ way cause she’s paving a way for justice!!!!
It’s worked for Law & Order SVU for 15 seasons. And you’d probably never question the TV premise of watching a murder every week, but Primetime schedules have been full of them for 60 years. Is a weekly morality play about pursuing justice against murder terribly different from a weekly morality play about pursuing justice against domestic violence. A series featuring a strong central female character who advocates for the rights of other women and their children and rescues profoundly damaged families could actually strike a primal chord with millions of women (and some male) viewers.
seriously , another law show. WTF can’t these people come up with another Scandal at least .I hope this fails fast
I’m going to scream… Shonda Rhimes and KJ Steinberg. I feel like I’m reading the same story every year at this time. When will we hear about something different on network television!
Never. Network is dead.
No way! I’ll never invest in nothing that has this woman’s name. Shonda Rhimes is a mediocre “writer” with no respect for the viewers. I’ve learned the lesson well. Contrieved, recycled and repetitive plots showing a total lack of investment and imagination. No coeherent development of the story lines, constant character assassination and only one big theme for all her stories: Infidelity. No thanks.
poor thing…highest rated shows, advertisers salivating for her time slots, people rearranging lives to see what she does next…and she’s mediocre. Steven King also alluded to the mindset of the writer elitist while he too, was driving to the bank. LOL
Can Hollywood come up with dramas that are NOT about lawyers, doctors and crime fighters?
Yes, writer can come up with new material, but executives, won’t read anything, that can’t be referred back to what they’ve already read..”.it’s like what show I might have seen”. Original…no we don’t understand that environment, pass, without reading…
i didnt know shonda brought the UK show Mistresses to US. Since Shonda is so successful how come Mistresses isnt promoted more ?
Apparently, your reading comprehension skills are lacking. Read that again pausing where you have commas so that you actually soak-up what each sentence is saying, and Lawless does sound like a hit show. It’s a concept that could easily be another huge winner for Shondaland and ABC