Why Did Shonda Rhimes’ ‘For The People’ Shut Down Its Production Temporarily?

Shonda Rhimes’ upcoming show, “For the People,” temporarily halted its production because additional script work for the series is deemed necessary.

According to Deadline, the delay in production is expected to last for about two and a half weeks and will not affect the scheduled premiere date for the series. The recasting of two actors in the series is another reason for the delay.

Originally, lead character Sandra was supposed to be played by Britne Oldford. But in July, TV Line reported that “Girlboss” star Britt Robertson will be taking over the role. Sandra is described as a fiercely independent public defender, who was driven to become a lawyer after her family suffered from a grave injustice.

“The Leftovers” alum Jasmin Savoy Brown was also cast to play the role of Allison, and she has replaced Lyndon Smith for the part. Robertson and Brown starred in the reshot version of the pilot for “For the People.” They have also filmed episode 2 when production decided to postpone filming and rewrite the scripts to reflect the cast’s new chemistry, according to TV Line.

“ For the People” is set in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which is also known as the Mother Court. The series will follow the lives of a group of new lawyers who are working for both the prosecution and defense teams. They will be tasked to handle the most high-stakes and high-profile cases in the country that could either make or break their career. Even though each lawyer handles an individual case, their lives will be tangled up with each other outside the courtroom.

Other cast members include Ben Rappaport and Anna Deavere Smith. The series will premiere sometime midseason, and Rhimes will serve as executive producer.

“For the People” was received an official series order after Rhimes’ other ABC TV show, “The Catch,” was canceled by the network after only two seasons. Rhimes will also be introducing a new show on ABC, which will serve as a firefighter spinoff for “Grey’s Anatomy.” As of late, the official title for the series hasn’t been confirmed.