''For Life'' is an American
legal drama
Legal drama, also called courtroom drama, is a genre of film and television that generally focuses on narratives regarding legal practice and the justice system. The American Film Institute (AFI) defines "courtroom drama" as a genre of film in wh ...
television series created by
Hank Steinberg
Hank Steinberg (born November 19, 1969) is an American television and film writer, producer and director.
Personal life
Hank Steinberg was born in Manhasset, New York, and raised in nearby Great Neck, both on Long Island. The son of Judy Hiller ...
that premiered on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting
* Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...
on February 11, 2020. The series is inspired by the true story of
Isaac Wright Jr.
Isaac Wright Jr. (born January 23, 1962) is an American attorney, businessman, and philanthropist. He is best known for being falsely accused and convicted as a drug lord and sentenced to life in prison in 1991 facing 10 charges involving the s ...
, who was imprisoned for a crime that he did not commit; he obtained a law degree after he was exonerated (unlike in the series). While incarcerated, he helped overturn the wrongful convictions of twenty of his fellow inmates, before finally proving his own innocence. In June 2020, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on November 18, 2020. In May 2021, the series was canceled after two seasons.
Premise
The series focuses on Aaron Wallace, who has been sentenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit. While incarcerated, Wallace becomes a lawyer and works as a defense attorney for others while striving to get his own sentence overturned. The series is loosely based on the life of
Isaac Wright Jr.
Isaac Wright Jr. (born January 23, 1962) is an American attorney, businessman, and philanthropist. He is best known for being falsely accused and convicted as a drug lord and sentenced to life in prison in 1991 facing 10 charges involving the s ...
Cast
Main
*
Nicholas Pinnock
Nicholas Andre Pinnock (born 2 September 1973) is a British actor. He is known for his role as lead character Aaron Wallace in the ABC legal drama '' For Life'' and as Truman Dawes in the Peacock crime drama '' Long Bright River''.
Early life ...
as Aaron Wallace, a former club owner convicted of drug trafficking, although in truth, the drugs actually belonged to one of his friends. Now serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole, he earns a license to practice law and works to help his fellow inmates in court.
*
Indira Varma
Indira Anne Varma (born 27 September 1973) is a British actress and narrator. Her film debut and first major role was in '' Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love''. She is known for her television roles, such as playing Niobe in the BBC and HBO series ''R ...
as Safiya Masry, the warden who oversees the prison where Wallace is serving his sentence. She is reform-minded, and helps him as best she can, but their relationship is strained by her need to look out for her own family's interests.
*
Joy Bryant
Joy Bryant (born October 18, 1974) is an American actress, businesswoman and fashion model. She has appeared in numerous films and television since beginning her acting career in 2001. She has received two NAACP Image Award nominations, and one Sc ...
as Marie Wallace, Aaron's wife, who has entered into a new relationship with Darius, one of his friends. Although she is sympathetic to her husband's plight, she also feels a need to move on and leave him in the past.
*
Mary Stuart Masterson
Mary Stuart Masterson (born June 28, 1966) is an American actress and director. After making her acting debut as a Child actor, child in The Stepford Wives (1975 film), ''The Stepford Wives'' (1975), Masterson took a ten-year hiatus to focus on ...
as Anya Harrison (season 1), Safiya's wife, who is running for Attorney General of New York State.
*
Dorian Crossmond Missick as Jamal Bishop, Aaron's closest friend in prison. He occasionally helps Aaron prepare cases.
* Tyla Harris as Jasmine Wallace, Aaron's teenage daughter. Unlike her mother, she has never stopped believing in her father and dreams of him returning home one day.
*
Glenn Fleshler
Glenn Fleshler is an American actor. On television, he is noted as a recurring cast member on ''Boardwalk Empire'' who portrayed real-life bootlegger George Remus, for appearing on '' Billions'', and as Errol Childress in the first season of ...
as Frank Foster (season 1), a senior corrections officer at the prison. Like most of his fellow guards, he dislikes Aaron.
*
Boris McGiver
Boris McGiver (born January 23, 1962) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in projects such as ''Lincoln'', ''House of Cards'', ''The Wire'', '' Killing Kennedy'', and ''Person of Interest''.
Biography
McGiver was born in Cobles ...
as Glen Maskins (season 1; guest season 2), the prosecutor who led the team that put Aaron away, and who is now running for
state Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states, of the District of Columbia, federal district, or of any of the Territories of the United States, territories is the chief legal advisor to the State governments of the United States, sta ...
. He scorns his old foe's desire to clear his name, and will do whatever it takes, including blackmail, to keep him locked up for good.
*
Timothy Busfield
Timothy Busfield (born June 12, 1957) is an American actor and director. He played Elliot Weston on the television series '' thirtysomething''; Mark, the brother-in-law of Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), in '' Field of Dreams''; and Danny Concann ...
as Henry Roswell, a former New York state senator who assists Aaron in his quest to become a lawyer, and later helps him prepare to argue for his retrial in court.
*
John Doman
John Doman is an American actor best known for playing Bill Rawls on HBO series ''The Wire'' (2002–2008), Colonel Edward Galson on '' Oz'' (2001), Dr. Deraad in '' ER'' (1999–2003), Rodrigo Borgia in the international television series ''Bo ...
as Alan Burke (recurring season 1; starring season 2), The attorney general of the state of New York.
Recurring
*
Brandon J. Dirden as Darius Johnson, Aaron's best friend who initially doubted him but later assists him during his retrial after finding new evidence suggesting Aaron is not guilty.
*
Erik Jensen as Dez O'Reilly, An assistant district attorney who works for Maskins.
*
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and television producer. Born in Queens, a borough of New York City, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in 1996. In 1999–2000, ...
as Cassius Dawkins, A dangerous inmate that is transferred to Bellmore by Maskins. Once there, he immediately causes problems for Aaron, Frank, and Safiya.
*
Peter Greene
Peter Greene (born Peter Green; October 8, 1965) is an American actor. A character actor, he is generally known for portraying villains. He is best known for the roles in the 1994 films '' The Mask'', where he plays its main antagonist, Dorian T ...
as Wild Bill Miller, The leader of the white supremacy gang at Bellmore.
*
Felonious Munk as Hassan Nawaz, a prisoner at Bellmore in season one, released in season two.
*
Joseph Siravo as Jerry McCormack, The head of the prison board who oversees Bellmore and other correctional facilities. He signed the order that allowed Cassius Dawkins to be transferred to Bellmore.
*Matt Dellapina as Tom Hansen, Safiya's assistant who helps her in monitoring all areas of the Bellmore Correctional facility.
*Toney Goins as Ronnie Baxter, Jasmine's boyfriend and the father of her child.
*Sean Boyce Johnson as Scotty Williams, The probation officer assigned to Aaron when he is released.
*
Royce Johnson as Andy Josiah and Marcel's father. (season 2)
*Amina Robinson as Elaine Josiah, Andy's wife, and Marcel's mother. (season 2)
*Jace Bently as Marcel Josiah, Andy and Elaine's son. (season 2)
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (2020)
Season 2 (2020–21)
Production
Development
On October 11, 2018,
Deadline Hollywood
''Deadline Hollywood'', commonly known as ''Deadline'' and also referred to as ''Deadline.com'', is an online news site founded as the news blog ''Deadline Hollywood Daily'' by Nikki Finke in 2006. It is updated several times a day, with en ...
reported that the then-unnamed series was under development at
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting
* Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...
. The pilot was written by
Hank Steinberg
Hank Steinberg (born November 19, 1969) is an American television and film writer, producer and director.
Personal life
Hank Steinberg was born in Manhasset, New York, and raised in nearby Great Neck, both on Long Island. The son of Judy Hiller ...
, who was also set to executive produce alongside Alison Greenspan, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Doug Robinson, Isaac Wright Jr., and George Tillman Jr. Production companies involved with the pilot included G-Unit Film & Television, Doug Robinson Productions,
ABC Studios
ABC Signature was a production arm of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), which is a subsidiary of Disney Television Studios, a sub-division of the Disney Entertainment business segment and division of The Walt Disney Company. The studio's ...
and
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television Inc. (abbreviated as SPT) is an American television production company, production and broadcast syndication, distribution studio. Based at the Sony Pictures Studios complex in Culver City, California, it is a division o ...
. On February 8, 2019, Deadline reported that the production had officially received a pilot order.
In May 2019, ABC announced that they had ordered the pilot to series, now titled ''For Life'', and that it would premiere as a mid-season replacement during the
2019–20 television season. On November 21, 2019,
TVLine
''TVLine'' is a website devoted to information, news, and spoilers of television programs. It covers various topics including the latest news on television, reviews, latest releases, and more.
History
In late 2010, ''Entertainment Weekly''s ...
posted an exclusive series trailer and announced a premiere date of February 11, 2020. On June 15, 2020, ABC renewed the series for a second season which premiered on November 18, 2020. On May 14, 2021, ABC canceled the series after two seasons, but is expected to offer it to other networks.
IMDb TV
Amazon Freevee (stylized as freevee and fv, also shortened as Freevee, formerly known as IMDb Freedive and IMDb TV, and sometimes spelled FV) is an American ad-supported video-on-demand (VOD) streaming service owned by Amazon, with original an ...
licensed the first two seasons and was touted as a possible home for a third season. In August 2021, IMDb TV opted to not pick up the series for a third season.
Casting
In March 2019, it was announced that
Nicholas Pinnock
Nicholas Andre Pinnock (born 2 September 1973) is a British actor. He is known for his role as lead character Aaron Wallace in the ABC legal drama '' For Life'' and as Truman Dawes in the Peacock crime drama '' Long Bright River''.
Early life ...
,
Indira Varma
Indira Anne Varma (born 27 September 1973) is a British actress and narrator. Her film debut and first major role was in '' Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love''. She is known for her television roles, such as playing Niobe in the BBC and HBO series ''R ...
,
Joy Bryant
Joy Bryant (born October 18, 1974) is an American actress, businesswoman and fashion model. She has appeared in numerous films and television since beginning her acting career in 2001. She has received two NAACP Image Award nominations, and one Sc ...
,
Mary Stuart Masterson
Mary Stuart Masterson (born June 28, 1966) is an American actress and director. After making her acting debut as a Child actor, child in The Stepford Wives (1975 film), ''The Stepford Wives'' (1975), Masterson took a ten-year hiatus to focus on ...
,
Boris McGiver
Boris McGiver (born January 23, 1962) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in projects such as ''Lincoln'', ''House of Cards'', ''The Wire'', '' Killing Kennedy'', and ''Person of Interest''.
Biography
McGiver was born in Cobles ...
, Tyla Harris, and
Dorian Missick
Dorian Crossmond Missick (born January 15, 1976) is an American actor known for his role as Damian in the television series '' Six Degrees'' (2006) and for voicing Victor Vance in the 2006 video game '' Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories''. He ...
had joined the cast in the pilot's lead roles.
Filming
On August 31, 2020, it was reported the second season had commenced production in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. However, on September 11, 2020, it was reported that the second season would suspend production for the day due to the
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
test delays. Two days later, the suspension was extended by two weeks. Filming resumed at the end of the month.
Reception
Critical response
On the
review aggregator
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...
website
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
, the series holds an 86% approval rating based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 7.12/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Guided by Nicholas Pinnock's powerful performance, ''For Life'' eschews procedural pitfalls with a sturdy, empathetic script and an impressive ensemble to bring it to life." On
Metacritic
Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
, the series has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Ratings
Overall
Season 1
Season 2
Notes
References
External links
*
{{50 Cent
2020 American television series debuts
2021 American television series endings
2020s American crime drama television series
2020s American legal drama television series
2020s prison television series
American Broadcasting Company crime dramas
American prison television series
American thriller television series
American English-language television shows
Fiction about wrongful convictions
Television series by ABC Studios
Television series by Sony Pictures Television
Television series based on actual events
Television series created by Hank Steinberg
Television productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Television series by G-Unit Films and Television Inc.
Television Academy Honors winners