New Suits series is in development at NBCUniversal… after Meghan Markle drama became the most streamed show in the US for 12 weeks straight

There is a new Suits series in the works at NBCUniversal, following the unexpected streaming reign of the original show, which ended in 2019, over the summer. 

The drama, which starred Meghan Markle, 42, as ambitious young paralegal Rachel Zane, will now get a companion show, according to Deadline. 

Series creator Aaron Korsh is reportedly in the early stages of developing the new show, which will be set in the same legal drama world, but will not be a reboot or sequel.

The series will feature new characters and setting, rumored to be Los Angeles according to sources. The original series, whose cast also included Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, and Rick Hoffman, was set in New York City.

It comes after Suits surprisingly spent 12 straight weeks as the most-streamed title in the United States, according to Nielsen data, which tallies total minutes viewed across all streaming platforms.

New legal drama: There is a new Suits series in the works at NBCUniversal; Meghan Markle and Patrick J. Adams pictured in a still from season 5

Aside from Netflix, Suits is also available on NBC’s streaming platform Peacock. Between Netflix and Peacock, viewership for Suits hit the 2.359 billion minute mark.

The new series would be the third Suits show, following the one-season spin-off Pearson, which starred Gina Torres and was set in Chicago.

The original Suits was added to Netflix in June, and quickly attracted viewers with its binge-friendly catalogue of 134 episodes spanning nine seasons.

Meghan starred as Zane in Suits from 2010 until her last episode in seventh season was aired in April 2018, a month before her wedding to Prince Harry at Windsor Castle. 

In September, Markle’s Suits co-star Patrick J Adams sent fans into a frenzy after sharing a number of shots from the show – leading his followers to speculate if the series ‘could be coming back.’

The legal drama tells the tale of Mike Ross (played by Patrick) as a plucky law school drop out who cons his way into a prestigious firm and falls in love with beautiful paralegal Rachel (Meghan).

Patrick shared a number of images of the cast on his Instagram with the caption: ‘Let’s get serious. Seriously. I miss my friends. Each and every one of them.’

Among the images was a previously unseen black-and-white portrait of Meghan, apparently on the set of the show, while another showed the duchess lying on the floor as she posed with her co-star Sarah Rafferty.

Fans were delighted to see the snaps, with many taking the post as an apparent hint the series could be coming back.

New show: The drama, which starred Markle, 42, as ambitious young paralegal Rachel Zane, will now get a companion show, according to Deadline; Markle and Sarah Rafferty seen in a still

Early stages: Series creator Aaron Korsh is reportedly in the early stages of developing the new show, which will be set in the same legal drama world, but will not be a reboot or sequel

Set in LA: The series will feature new characters and setting, rumored to be Los Angeles according to sources

Top spot: It comes after Suits surprisingly spent 12 straight weeks as the most-streamed title in the United States, according to Nielsen data, which tallies total minutes viewed across all streaming platforms

One commented: ‘Law is a precise endeavour, Patrick. Be clear. The reboot is coming, right?

A second took the post as an apparent hint, saying: ‘Something’s coming…isn’t it?’

Another wrote: ‘I miss you all of you! Please do another season!!! Bring Rachel back too!’

A third added: ‘This show needs a reboot!!! I miss the show!’

A fourth commented: ‘Don’t give us hope[s]. Is Suits coming back? After The Office [was] announced, this feels like a legitimate possibility.’

Season one began with an average of 4.6million viewers in 2011.

However ratings consistently dipped since the start, even with Meghan in the show.

Meghan and Patrick both left the show at the end of season seven. Their final episode saw Rachel and Mike finally tie the knot , before leaving for Seattle.

Her show: Meghan starred in Suits from 2010 until her last episode in seventh season was aired in 2018, a month before her wedding to Prince Harry; they are seen on Tuesday

According to FOX News, the return of season 8, (which excluded Meghan and Patrick), averaged with 1.2 million viewers, 100,000 less than its seventh season.

It was axed in January 2019 after the ninth 10-episode-instalment.

However the show has seen a surge in viewers on screening platforms in recent months.

After launching on Netflix earlier this year, the series set a viewing time record for an acquired series in the week of June 26-July 2, with 3.14 billion minutes of watch time.