In what was considered possibly the top pilot this season, Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba’s Bad Boys spinoff, L.A.’s Finest, is not going forward at NBC.
According to Deadline, the network has opted out, and the show’s producers, Sony Pictures TV, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Primary Wave and 2.0 Entertainment, are already fielding interest.
The trade publication’s Nellie Andreeva writes, “While not off the charts, LA’s Finest had garnered solid buzz and is a rare marquee drama title with two diverse female leads — something we don’t have on broadcast TV. It is not entirely clear whether NBC’s decision was based on creative or business reasons (NBC had been in negotiations with Sony TV on four projects — two pilots and two current series), but the answer is likely in some combination of the two.”
Shadow and Act spoke to Union about the pilot last week. “We’re really excited. And to be able to co-executive produce with Jessica Alba..it’s like, we feel like boss bitches. It just really feels good that two women of color are the leads, are the executive producers, put the whole thing together and that we know that we are deserving of this opportunity. That nobody gave it to us, we took it. So hopefully NBC agrees. No pressure, NBC (laughs)…but we really hope we are on the fall lineup.”
The series would see Union reprising her character, Special Agent Sydney “Syd” Burnett, from the second Bad Boys film. Burnett was an undercover DEA operative and sister of Martin Lawrence’s Marcus Burnett and love interest for Will Smith’s Mike Lowrey.
Here’s her status in the show: “Syd Burnett, last seen in Miami taking down a drug cartel, now is a Los Angeles Police Department detective and can pursue all the pleasures Los Angeles has to offer and leave her past behind. But things will get complicated when her new partner, Nancy McKenna (Alba), learns that Syd’s unapologetic lifestyle might be masking a greater personal secret.”