We all might miss the slick and charming lawyer Harvey Specter from ‘Suits’, but actor Gabriel Macht is done with the character. After all, he played Harvey for nine seasons, for what he regards as a “business decision”. Macht is now focusing on his family and side ventures, rather than acting. But still, there’s a bit of hope for fans.
Macht is all set to appear in the ‘Suits’ spinoff titled ‘Suits LA’ which is led by Stephen Amell as Ted Black. Recently, he talked about suiting up once again as the best closer New York City has ever seen despite hesitation. For Macht, he had said goodbye to Harvey, until fan service brought him back.
Why Gabriel Macht Is Returning As Harvey Specter In ‘Suits LA’
Harvey Specter went through hell and emerged a better man by the time the ‘Suits’ finale rolled around. After all the lawsuits, power struggles at the firm, his failed relationships, and family drama, Harvey found peace in the end. He decided to marry Donna, the perfect woman for him, and took a step back from chasing money and reunited with his protege and friend, Mike Ross, and his wife, Rachel. That’s a pretty great send-off. Macht also thought so.
Related: One Decision About Harvey Specter Entirely Changed ‘Suits’
He told Entertainment Weekly, “I finished up on Suits and felt like we spent enough time with Harvey: nine years, 134 episodes. We really created such a well-rounded character, and the ensemble was terrific. Look, I am so appreciative and blessed to have been a part of this show, and it’s created a lot of opportunities for me. And when I say goodbye, I was really burying the character in many, many ways, metaphorically for myself.“
Macht had been trying to distance himself from acting as he didn’t “want to become this character that is known for this one thing.” But Harvey gave a lot to Macht. “But then it turned out that I also didn’t want to become an actor auditioning for shows when I’m in my 50s and 60s to make a living, and so there was a definite choice to continue the show and set my future up in a way that created opportunity for my family and myself. That’s another reason we did nine years,” he said.
So what made him change his mind and appear in ‘Suits LA’? Well, it’s all for the fans. When ‘Suits‘ creator Aaron Korsh called Macht about the opportunity, he was reluctant. In his mind, the show had a good run, but he wasn’t ready to come back. But eventually, he told Korsh, “The focus is my family right now, and if we can create a space and an opportunity to do this, I would love to help and pass the metaphorical baton over to Stephen and the rest of the cast, because I believe in you guys, I believe in what you guys are doing, this universe idea sounds great.”
Harvey’s Connection To Ted Black In ‘Suits LA’
‘Suits LA’ tries to veer away from the corporate law world of ‘Suits’. This one is an entertainment and criminal law firm. The players in LA are Ted Black, who has left his New York life behind as a federal prosecutor to dominate Hollywood by representing the biggest stars. He works alongside criminal lawyer Stuart Lane. They have been running the Black Lane firm for 15 years, and despite ups and downs, they have remained friends. Yet, we all know ties are fickle in the face of money and power. So, there’s a tussle abound. Besides these two men, we have the talented protégés, Rick Dodson and Erica Rollins. They are both ambitious and have a code of their own.
Now, you might be wondering how Harvey fits into all this. Well, the pilot was shot before Macht said yes. But the idea was formed to shine a spotlight on his history with Ted. There’s also a picture of Ted and Harvey behind Ted’s desk in his office. So, you know they shared something special. They were friends. Harvey will appear through flashback, and then show up in the present.
In case you missed it: ‘Suits’ Star Sarah Rafferty Reveals What’s Happening To Harvey And Donna’s Relationship Now
Macht revealed, ”This guy, Ted, is in a bind. There seem to be elements of Ted that are very similar to Harvey. And there is some self-referential wordplay that resembles some old patterns that are really playful and watchable. I think that there’s a great dynamic between these guys and there’s a strong, strong love for each other that is nice to see, two guys that have each other’s backs. There’s something there.”
As all ‘Suits’ fans know, Harvey worked in the District Attorney’s office for a decade. Ted was a U.S. Attorney in the same city. So, that’s where they could’ve crossed paths, despite not working in the same office. It’ll still be interesting to see how Harvey uses his wits to help Ted out of his precarious situation with his partner and the firm’s future.
