One of the shows that may have flown under the radar with the recent NBC mid-schedule announcement was The Firm. It's not the new legal drama's fault that Community fans would instantly realize their show was absent and therefore steal the new series' thunder (as well as the thunder of any/all of the other mid-season premieres). Yep. NBC really shot itself it the foot there, but at least they have The Firm to help cover everything up.
It never hurts when a series is based on a pre-existing popular property -- in this case, across two mediums -- that is associated with two giant stars in their respective fields. Of course, I am referring to author John Grisham (a rare literary household name) and actor Tom Cruise. The 1998 film came out pretty much in Maverick's prime, and both it and the book were big hits. The new show won't have Tom Cruise, but it does have a pretty great cast as well as the participation and blessing of Grisham.
The cast includes Josh Lucas taking over the Mitchell McDeere role made famous by Tom Cruise, with Molly Parker playing his wife Abby. Other notable actors in the series include Tricia Helfer, Callum Keith Rennie, and the great Juliette Lewis. Too bad there's no Hal Holbrook, I love that guy. I originally thought that the series was simply remaking the novel/film and extending the story to last over a few seasons (if they're lucky enough to last past the initial, but confident, 22-episode order), however, it is a full-on sequel taking place a decade after the previous story. Just when Mitch thought he was out, they pulled him back in...take a look.
The Firm debuts with a two-hour premiere on Sunday, January 8th, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. It will then air regularly on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET starting January 12th.
Official synopsis from NBC:
Picking up 10 years after the events of the 1993 feature film, this new series finds lawyer Mitch McDeere, who worked with the FBI to bring down a Memphis law firm associated with the Chicago mob, coming out of near total isolation after his family spent a decade in the Federal Witness Protection Program.The McDeeres are ready to return to their old lives and leave the past behind them - but the mob has a long memory. Add that to Mitch's new association with another firm that may or may not be involved in something illicit, and the path ahead is dangerous and unknown. As old enemies return and new threats emerge, Mitch has no choice but to fight back if he ever hopes to return to some sense of normalcy. But can one man fight a criminal conspiracy? At least Mitch has one thing going for him: he's done it before.
