Fans of The Good Doctor were rejoicing when a possible female-led spin-off was initially announced back in 2022. Unfortunately, ABC has chosen to not move forward with The Good Lawyer, a legal spin-off supposedly led by Kennedy McMann (Nancy Drew) and Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives). Alongside The Good Lawyer, the network also canceled The Rookie: Feds after one season.
ABC closes the case on the possible The Good Doctor spin-off
The Good Lawyer was given a backdoor pilot, which The Good Doctor showrunners David Shore and Liz Friedman co-wrote. The backdoor pilot, which aired as an episode of The Good Doctor, received praise due to McMann and Huffman’s impressive performances. However, due to the SAG-AFTRA strike — which further extended the hold period — ABC ultimately closed the doors for potential television defenders of law and justice.
The episode saw Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) determined to win a case over alleged malpractice filed against him. He then obtains legal representation from Jon DeGroot (McMann), a promising young lawyer diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The now-canceled series was meant to explore more in-depth aspects of Jon DeGroot’s OCD and the ways in which her diagnosis impacted her relationships and professional life. But while The Good Lawyer has been canceled despite the praise it received due to its backdoor pilot, The Good Doctor was previously renewed for a Season 7.
The synopsis for The Good Doctor reads: “The series centers around Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, who relocates from a quiet country life to join the prestigious St. Bonaventure hospital’s surgical unit. Alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, his only advocate, Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff), challenges the skepticism and prejudices of the hospital’s board and staff when he brings him in to join the team. Shaun will need to work harder than he ever has before, as he navigates his new environment and relationships to prove to his colleagues that his extraordinary medical gifts will save lives.”
