Ally McBeal could heading back to dominate the world of television again as the once-pop culture juggernaut is being eyed for a reboot at ABC with a surprising new angle.
Deadline reports that the “new show will follow a young Black woman who joins the law firm from the original series (or its current incarnation) straight out of law school. The young woman is believed to be the daughter of Ally McBeal’s (Calista Flockhart) D.A. roommate Renée Raddick, played by Lisa Nicole Carson on the mothership series.”
The report also notes that ABC is eying the star of the original series Calista Flockhart to return for this relaunch. According to Deadline, her return won’t be determined until a script has been written.
The new series will be written and executive produced by Karin Gist (Mike), and while original creator David E. Kelley is not currently set to return he has reportedly given the rebooted series his blessing. Gist is the executive producer and showrunner on the new Mike Tyson limited series Mike for Hulu and served as executive producer and showrunner on the ABC comedy mixed-ish.
The original Ally McBeal ran on Fox between 1997-2002, and followed Calista Flockhart’s Ally, who dealt with the trials and tribulations of life as she looked for love and fulfillment in her career. It was a pop culture moment, even launching the infamous dancing baby meme, which exploded over the early days of the internet.