Twenty years after its conclusion, Ally McBeal is preparing to return with a new series, in development at ABC.
Karin Gist ( Grey’s Anatomy, Our Kind of People, Sister Act 3 ) developed the series.
which is expected to have a new lead, an African-American woman who will join the original series’ law firm just out of college.
The protagonist is supposed to be the daughter of Renée Raddick ( Lisa Nicole Carson ).
Calista Flockhart is in talks to reprise the role of Ally McBeal and is expected to return as an executive producer as well. But the final decision on her involvement will only be made when a script has been written.
Ally McBeal was created by David E. Kelley , who gave his blessing to this new project. Kelley, however, preferred to leave the guide of the series to Karin Gist, considering that it will be precisely focused on an African-American woman. Kelley is not currently expected to be involved in any way. 20th Television will produce the series. Gist will serve as showrunner and executive producer through her company The Gist of It, along with vice-president Claire Brown .
The original series aired on Fox over the course of five seasons, from 1997 to 2002.