Spectrum Originals have renewed their first scripted original, L.A.’s Finest, starring Gabrielle Union (Bad Boys, Being Mary Jane) and Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four). The stars are also executive producers on the series. L.A.’s Finest is an action drama that takes place in Jerry Bruckheimer’s Bad Boys film universe. L.A.’s Finest follows Syd Burnett, played by Union, as she leaves her complicated life in Miami to move to California. Her new partner, Nancy McKenna (Alba), is a working mom with a troubled past of her own. The two must learn to trust one another in order to catch L.A.’s most dangerous criminals.
The pilot of L.A.’s Finest was originally ordered by NBC who ultimately passed on continuing it to series. The head of Spectrum Originals, Katherine Pope, said, “When I first saw the pilot – a show about two strong women learning to trust and support each other and still getting into plenty of trouble – I knew I’d follow them anywhere”. Pope was thrilled for the show to continue into a second season, “Kudos to Gabrielle and Jessica, as stars and executive producers, along with creators Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis and everyone else involved, for helping us launch our first original series and making the decision to greenlight a second season incredibly easy.”
L.A.’s Finest was created by Brandon Margolis and Brandon Sonnier. The two are expected to return as executive producers next season, despite both being injured during a stunt in the season one finale.
While filming in February, a stunt car struck a shipping container on the San Pedro, California set. The collision caused the shipping container to roll onto the showrunners, Margolis and Sonnier, who were watching the scene on a monitor in video village. Sonnier was seriously injured. His leg was amputated below the knee as a result of the accident.
At the Monte Carlo Television Festival on Saturday, Union and Alba spoke about how the incident affected the crew. Union said, “I don’t know if there is a word that’s big enough to describe how the whole production felt, how everyone associated with the show felt, I don’t know if saying it was ‘heartbreaking’ or ‘devastating’ is enough… I think Brandon [Sonnier] led us… We were still like [speechless] and he was like ‘It’s my new normal; get on board, guys.’”
Alba also spoke about Sonnier, “he is so resilient and inspiring. But when you go through something that is like that you see the type of family and community that you surround yourself with, and he and all of us really came together as a family in a way that you just never even realize until something like that happens.”
Alba added that she and Union had been in communication with Sonnier about season two and he seems excited to get back to work. Union went on to explain how seriously Sonnier takes his job as a co-showrunner. Sonnier made it clear to them in his messages that he wants to help open doors for other filmmakers, “‘Guys, this is the new normal, and I want to make sure that while I still have a seat at this table I keep that door open, and I have embraced my new normal. Get on board, let’s move forward, and who else can we empower this season… female directors, directors of color, creating storylines that touch even more communities.’”