Suits Cast Reunites at ATX TV Festival to Discuss the Series’ Inception, the Importance of a Casting Director, and More

In honor of the 5th anniversary of the series finale coming up, a portion of the Suits cast reunited at ATX TV Festival to look back on the series that still has many in a chokehold.

Patrick J. Adams, Sarah Rafferty, Amanda Schull, Dulé Hill, Abigail Spencer, and former USA Network President Jeff Wachtel cozied up with one another on stage to reflect on how the series began, the impact it had on their lives and why two of them have never watched the show, until now.

Suits Was Almost a Completely Different Series

It’s hard to imagine Suits with a potentially different name or premise, but during the reunion panel, Adams, Rafferty, and Wachtel touched on how the series was initially called A Legal Mind, revolving around a group of accountants.

Stemming from creator Aaron Korsh’s past as an investment banker, the world for the series revolved around people in finance. However, when test screening, the people in charge realized there wasn’t much sex appeal in the idea.

The series kept the title A Legal Mind until the filming of Season 1 Episode 2, when Wachtel, in a stroke of creativity, initiated a competition among the project’s team, promising a $100 gift card to the person who could come up with the best title. 

Alex Sepiol, a USA Network executive and one of the show’s developmental executives, ended up winning the gift card and getting the gift of forever claiming that he was the one to name arguably one of the most remarkable TV series in generations.

That fun element in the show’s development is a testament to the team’s collaborative spirit.

“We were desperate,” said Wachtel. “I mean, it said Untitled Aaron Korsch. We were like, ‘Guys, at some point, that’s not going to look good on the Billboard. You better figure out the title.’ And we ended up with the Suits title. I think it was just kind of perfect for the show.”

We Have Gabriel Macht to thank for Sarah Rafferty’s Involvement

If you’ve seen Suits in any capacity, whether it be occasional episodes here and there or the whole series, you know that Sarah Rafferty’s Donna Paulsen is one of the main attractions that makes the show what it is.

During the panel, Rafferty revealed that she had just come from shooting a different pilot when Gabriel Macht encouraged her to audition for Suits, despite it initially being a guest-starring role.

“I was going to my friend’s premiere of his movie that night, and I hung up the phone with the news that suddenly I didn’t have the job that I thought I had,” Rafferty said. “And when I saw my friend, he was like, ‘What’s going on? What’s up?’ And I said, ‘My show didn’t get picked up.'”

“This friend said, ‘Great, I just signed on to do a show. I’m going to email you the script when I get home. Promise me. Promise me you will audition. It looks like a really small part, but I know they’re going to make it into a series regular.’ That friend was Gabriel [Macht],” Rafferty continued.

“Gabriel called and said, ‘Look, there’s this unbelievable actress that I know, and I know we’re casting Donna. She’s not a regular, but it’s the person who’s going to be my assistant, so I would love for you to read her,” interjected Wachtel.

“Bonnie [Zane] said, ‘You’ve got to see her. She’s phenomenal.’ And then anyone who’s seen the pilot, which, speaking of, can you imagine Suits without Donna? Can you imagine her without the look? She’s between the two guys; they’re talking, and she just looks from one to the other, and you feel the glue. You feel like, ‘I want to hang out with these people. It’s just wonderful how things can come together in unexpected ways,” Wachtel continued.

Even with Macht in the ears of the executives, Rafferty still had to do a bit of finessing to secure the role. While living in California, she made an audition tape to send in, telling the powers above that she lived in New York at the time.

“I did cheat a little bit. I said, ‘Tell them I live in New York and I’m a local hire.’ So, I flew myself out, put myself up, and played Donna. I hadn’t met anybody when I got there,” said Rafferty.

“What Gabriel did that day on set too, with bringing in the character — we were kind of doing that actor thing of backstory. You know, these people have obviously known each other a really long time, like we had, and in that scene, I think it was the first time that Donna, in an improv, called Harvey out like, ‘That wasn’t cool. You were a little harsh on him.’ And then there’s this sisterly vibe between them [Donna and Mike], always trying to keep him in line, but really seeing that he’s the drug dealer with a heart of gold,” Rafferty continued.

“We had so little together. We’d have like two lines on my way into an office or on the way out, but you could tell that we wanted to make the most of them. I remember shooting and how much we loved those scenes. I’m remembering one in the filing room that was particularly strange to shoot,” Adams added with a chuckle.

“Can I say something to that? Because I was more of a witness to that,” Spencer interjected. “I mean, they’re joking, but every scene was like that. The cast on this show cared about everything, and that was why it was such a joy to come play, join along, and support.”

“When you’re a guest coming to someone else’s home, it’s like, ‘I’m here to serve, to play, and hopefully make everyone have fun and be a part of the team.’ It had such a profound effect on me to see everyone caring, and nine seasons in, when I got to come back, still just caring about every moment. Part of the resurgence [in the show’s viewership] is the work you put into every moment across the board: writers, directors, everyone cared tremendously, and you are feeling it now,” Spencer continued.

A Suits Podcast Is On The Way

Patrick J. Adams and Sarah Rafferty will officially co-host a Suits podcast titled Sidebar. They’re not calling it a rewatch podcast because neither of them has seen an episode of the series until now.

“We’re calling it a watch podcast because we’ve never actually watched this television show. We are watching it for the first time together, and we are recording a podcast that’s sort of documenting that journey. That’s going to be coming out to you really soon,” Adams said.

“We’re excited for you guys to join us,” Rafferty added.

The two also confirmed that we can expect special guest appearances from other Suits cast members throughout the podcast.

A Different Actress Almost Portrayed Rachel Zane

While she might be known as Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, now, Suits fans know her best as Rachel Zane, attorney and former associate/paralegal in the Suits universe. However, the character Rachel Zane was close to being portrayed by another notable actor from the series.

Amanda Schull, best known as Katrina Bennett, initially sent in tapes for the role but says her audition didn’t go as planned.

“The audition was Rachel giving a monologue, showing Mike where things were. I was so nervous. I could actually see my heart beating in my dress, pit stains, all of that. I didn’t do a great job, but Bonnie called me back in, and the note was that ‘she could do better,'” Schull said.

“To think that a casting director could have enough faith to bring you back because they know that you’re more than the pit stains you were that day is so much more support than we sometimes feel we’re given.”

“I didn’t get the job, but then I actually went in for every single female guest star. That’s not an exaggeration. I went in for every female guest star for the whole first season and then half of the second season. Then I got a call that they had written a role with me in mind, and I still had to audition for it,” Schull laughed. “Welcome to show business, everybody. It’s hard out there, guys. But finally, I found my Katrina. They found me.”

The Series Wouldn’t be What it Was Without Its Casting Director

Thanks to her keen eye for talent and ability to pick the perfect actors for each role, Bonnie Zane, the casting director, played a significant function in the show’s success.

In addition to being the reason Schull took on the role she did, Abigail Spencer, who played Dana Scott, says she was only supposed to make a cameo for one episode. She directly attributes Zane’s adamance and care for those attached as the reason why she was able to be on set more than once.

“I actually got a DVD sent to me from Bonnie Zane, and she said, ‘Just watch it. I know it hasn’t aired yet, but I think it’s really special.’ And she was right. I had just done a stint on Mad Men, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s Mad Men for lawyers.’ And I was like, ‘I hope I get to be a part of it just once,'” said Spencer.

“Bonnie Zane made that happen. I’m a single mom, and I couldn’t have gone to Toronto and done this part over and over again if it wasn’t for her. It doesn’t get said enough. She made that happen. Bonnie Zane is the reason I’m here,” Spencer continued.

Additional Fun Facts Revealed in the Panel:

• Adams and Macht never had a chemistry read before being hired as the leading characters. According to Adams, the two had lunch for the first time, “praying the other one wasn’t a complete dick.”
• Rick Hoffman had to be strapped in with a seatbelt during his mudding scenes because he would float to the top otherwise.
• Suits Season 9 will be available to stream on Netflix on July 1.

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