ABC has picked up two more pilots to series: 50 Cent-drama “For Life” and the Will Sasso-starring sitcom “United We Fall.”
“For Life” is a fictional serialized legal and family drama inspired by the life of Isaac Wright Jr. about a prisoner who becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit, per ABC. His quest for freedom is driven by his desperate desire to get back to the family he loves and reclaim the life that was stolen from him. The show will also, through the window of his ferocious struggle and his complicated relationship with a progressive female prison warden, examine the flaws and challenges in our penal and legal systems.
From Hank Steinberg, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson via G-Unit Film & Television, Doug Robinson and Alison Greenspan of Doug Robinson Productions and Isaac Wright, Jr. The pilot is directed and executive produced by George Tillman, Jr. (“The Hate U Give”). “For Life” is a co-production of Sony Pictures Television Inc. and ABC Studios. ABC Studios is a part of Disney Television Studios, a collection of studios comprised of 20th Century Fox Television, ABC Studios and Fox 21 Television Studios.
“For Life” stars Nicholas Pinnock as Aaron, Indira Varma as Safiya, Joy Bryant as Marie, Glenn Fleshler as Frank, Dorian Missick as Jamal, Tyla Harris as Jasmine with Mary Stuart Masterson as Anya and Boris McGiver as DA Maskins.
“United We Fall” is a profoundly realistic family sitcom that follows the trials and tribulations of Jo (Christina Vidal) and Bill (Will Sasso), parents of two young kids, as they try to make it day-to-day as a functioning family, per ABC. Bill’s very judgmental live-in mother (Jane Curtin) and Jo’s large Latinx Catholic family will never hesitate to let our couple know they’re seemingly screwing up, but Bill and Jo will always have each other’s backs, united against everyone — other parents, teachers, doctors, specialists, coaches, co-workers, and especially their kids.
The multi-camera series stars Sasso as Bill Ryan, Vidal as Jo Ryan, Curtin as Sandy Ryan, and Ella Grace Helton as Emily Ryan. Jason Michael Snow, who played Gary Ryan in the pilot, is being recast for the series.
Julius “Goldy” Sharpe (“Making History”) wrote and executive produced the pilot. Seth Gordon and Julia Gunn are also executive producers. Mark Cendrowski directed the pilot, which was produced by Sony Pictures, Exhibit A Film and ABC Studios.
“For Life” and “United We Fall” are the third and fourth new series ordered by ABC this week. They join the previously announced “Black-ish” spinoff “Mixed-ish,” and an untitled Cobie Smulders project.
ABC has renewed the following series for next season: “A Million Little Things,” “American Housewife,” “black-ish,” “Bless This Mess,” “The Conners,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “The Good Doctor,” “Grey’s Anatomy” (for Seasons 16 and 17), “How to Get Away With Murder,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Modern Family” (for 11th and final season), “The Rookie,” “Single Parents” and “Station 19.”
It’s canceled “For the People,” “The Fix,” “The Kids Are Alright,” “Splitting Up Together,” “Speechless” and “Take Two.”
We’re still awaiting decisions on “The Goldbergs,” “Schooled” and “Whiskey Cavalier.”