The title of Dick Wolf’s fourth NBC “Chicago” franchise has been changed to “Chicago Justice” from “Chicago Law” and new cast members have been announced for the spinoff pilot.
Carl Weathers, known for his portrayal of boxer Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” franchise, will play the Cook County state’s attorney Mark Jefferies.
Nazneen Contractor (“Heroes Reborn”) plays ADA Dawn Harper; Joelle Carter (“Justified”) will be Lori Nagle, a tough-as-nails investor and Phillip Winchester (“Strike Back”) plays the lead prosecutor.
The backdoor NBC pilot will be introduced via episode 21 of “Chicago PD” and directed by Jean de Segonzac, the longtime director of Wolf’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” De Segonzac directed episodes of “Boss,” which filmed here in 2011-2012.
At Saturday night’s PaleyFest in LA honoring Dick wolf, the producer said the pilot will start shooting this week, Thursday, March 24 at Cinespace, in the studio’s event space, where the set has under construction for the past two weeks.
In talking about his shows Wolf said, “We’re doing 87 hours of TV this year. There have been over 40,000 actors employed on Dick Wolf shows, counting NYC and Chicago shows.”
“I hope “Chicago Justice” is going to be the fourth leg of the table in Chicago,” Wolf said later in the panel about the potential spinoff.
“It’s one of the great unknowns — of when the chemistry or how the chemistry comes about and when it does, it’s fantastic.”
