According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gabriel Macht (Suits, The Good Shepherd) reprises his beloved role as Harvey Specter in the Suits spinoff Suits LA, marking a significant connection between the original series and its new direction. The show, starring Stephen Amell (Arrow, Heels) as Ted Black, follows a former prosecutor who opens a Los Angeles law firm specializing in criminal and entertainment law.  creator Aaron Korsh explained that the connection between Ted and Harvey, both being New York prosecutors, made Macht’s return a natural choice.

Korsh revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that his decision to bring Macht back was influenced by a picture of him included in the pilot before he had even discussed it with the actor.

“When we shot the pilot, we put a picture of him in the pilot without me having discussed it with Gabriel. I knew we could always take it out if he didn’t want to do it, but it would be harder to put back in,” Korsh shared. Once the show received a series pickup, Korsh reached out to Macht, who agreed to return to the role. Macht explained his thoughts on the spinoff, stating, “If they can let go of that cast and welcome a new cast, there’s so many similarities and enough differences that people are going to be like alright, I can get into this.”

Korsh, at the show’s L.A. premiere, emphasized his goal of maintaining an organic connection to the original series while introducing new characters. He noted that while he would love to bring back other Suits stars, he doesn’t want to overwhelm the new series with former characters. “I don’t want to have them all on one after the other because I think it harms the original and the new show to do that,” Korsh said to The Hollywood Reporter. His approach ensures the spinoff stands on its own while acknowledging the legacy of the original show.

As the series progresses, Amell expressed his excitement about the inclusion of Harvey Specter. “I love that there’s a tie-in,” Amell told The Hollywood Reporter. “And also if you’re a fan of the original, it’s like OK, it’s been however many years since we’ve seen this character — what is he doing, what is up to, where’s he living, how’s his life?” Korsh also spoke about Amell’s casting, recalling that he knew “15 seconds into his audition” that Amell was the right fit for the lead role in Suits LA.

Looking ahead, Korsh acknowledged the possibility of expanding the Suits universe further, though he stressed that any future projects would need to feel inspired.

“We had talked about potentially having a Suits movie at some point but I did have other projects in the works prior to this happening,” Korsh said. “The future is wide open. I’m certainly open to more things happening, but it’s not easy.”

Suits LA blends nostalgia with fresh talent, offering fans a new perspective on the Suits world while staying true to its roots. With careful attention to balancing past and present characters, Korsh is ensuring the spinoff remains exciting for both old and new audiences.