Wendell Pierce is ready to return as Robert Zane in the Suits spinoff.
The actor recently shared on SiriusXM’s The Spotlight with Jessica Shaw that he would be interested in reprising his role for the upcoming Suits: LA, following the original show’s unexpected streaming resurgence.
“I think it’s the most fascinating thing that all of a sudden, our show got on Netflix and it blew up,” Pierce said before recalling when he learned about the Suits boost in 2023. “We got a text, a chain text, from Gabriel Macht who’s the lead, and he just sent this text to everyone saying, ‘WTF.’ We were all like, ‘What?’”
After Suits premiered on Netflix last year, the show, which initially ran from 2011 to 2019, sat at the top of the streaming charts in the summer and fall. It also became the most-streamed show over the course of a year. The show also streams on Peacock.
Regarding Suits: LA, The Wire actor said he hopes there are opportunities for cameos, especially given the lack of compensation the original actors received for the streaming resurgence. The show’s stars were among those who voiced their frustration over streaming compensation during the actors strike last year.
“There’s a new Suits being produced right now, so I’m sure that we will be making cameos on it,” Pierce said before quipping, “I better be asked to make a cameo on the show ’cause we went on strike because of not getting anything from that resurgence.”
Pierce added in a serious tone, “I would love to make a cameo on the show.”
Pierce played Rachel Zane’s (Meghan Markle) father on Suits. His character went from a competing law firm to partnering with Harvey Specter (Macht) and Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) to start a new firm. His daughter Rachel also ends up marrying Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams).
Though it’s unclear at this point how Pierce’s character could fit into the Suits spinoff, the show follows former prosecutor Ted Black (Stephen Amell) who relocates to Los Angeles from New York City and finds himself representing the city’s most powerful clients.
As for the contract between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers last year, actors will now get a “streaming participation bonus” for high-performing original streaming series and films.