ABC has renewed the freshman legal drama “For Life” for a second season and opted not to move forward with a second season of “The Baker and the Beauty,” the network announced Monday.
Created by Hank Steinberg and produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, “For Life” debuted back in February and wrapped its freshman run last month. The series is a fictional serialized legal and family drama about an imprisoned man, Aaron Wallace, who becomes a lawyer litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. It is inspired by the life of Isaac Wright Jr.
“The Baker and the Beauty” debuted back in April and starred Victor Rasuk and “Dynasty” alum Nathalie Kelley as a baker who falls in with an international celebrity and fashion mogul after they meet during a wild night out in Miami.
Responding to news of the renewal, Jackson hailed the “For Life” as “more than just a show,” calling it “a fight for justice.”
“Isaac Wright Jr. stood up to the system and won his freedom and now more than ever, we need to keep telling the story inspired by his life,” he said. “Creator Hank Steinberg and his team of writers are ready to continue exploring and exposing the flaws in the system which is so important now more than ever. I told you it would happen.”
“It has been a profound honor working with Isaac Wright, Jr. and Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson to create a show that, through the prism of Isaac’s experience in our broken criminal justice system, has been able to highlight the racial inequality that plagues this country,” added Steinberg. “The show’s renewal will allow us to continue to do that and I am extremely grateful to Sony Pictures Television and ABC for all of their support.”
“For Life” stars stars Nicholas Pinnock as Aaron Wallace, alongside Indira Varma, Joy Bryant, Mary Stuart Masterson, Boris McGiver, Dorian Missick, Tyla Harris and Timothy Busfield. It is a co-production between Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios. Steinberg is the creator and executive producer. Jackson executive produces via G-Unit Film & Television, alongside Isaac Wright Jr. and Doug Robinson and Alison Greenspan of Doug Robinson Productions.
In addition to Rasuk and Kelley, “The Baker and the Beauty” also starred Carlos Gómez, Dan Bucatinsky, Lisa Vidal, David Del Rio, Belissa Escobedo and Michelle Veintimilla. Dean Georgaris served as writer, executive producer and showrunner on the series. It was based on an Israeli format created by Assi Azar.