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Grey's Anatomy boss' Erin Brockovich-inspired going ahead starring Katey Sagal

From Digital Spy

Rebel, a new drama from Grey's Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff, has been given a straight-to-series to order at ABC – and it's going to be fronted by a Sons of Anarchy star.

Inspired by the life of activist Erin Brockovich, the show will see Katey Sagal play Annie 'Rebel' Bello, a "funny, messy" blue-collar legal advocate without a law degree. It's expected to premiere sometime in 2021.

"When Rebel applies herself to a fight she believes in, she will win at almost any cost," the official synopsis reads. "She's a brilliant and fearless woman who cares desperately about the causes she fights for and the people she loves."

Photo credit: JB Lacroix - Getty Images
Photo credit: JB Lacroix - Getty Images

Related: Grey's Anatomy showrunner details her experience of uninvited touching from an unnamed studio executive

John Corbett (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), James Lesure (Good Girls), Lex Scott Davis (The First Purge), Tamala Jones (Castle), Ariela Barer (Runaways), Kevin Zegers (Fear the Walking Dead), Sam Palladio (Nashville) and Andy Garcia round out the cast.

"The work that Erin Brockovich does in this world is so powerful and so important that it almost defies description," Vernoff – who's also in charge of Grey's Anatomy spin off Station 19 – said in a prepared statement.

"Erin works tirelessly for social, legal and environmental justice despite the lack of a formal degree. She inspires everyone she meets to become their own heroes, and somehow, she also keeps us laughing.

Photo credit: David Livingston - Getty Images
Photo credit: David Livingston - Getty Images

Related: Grey's Anatomy boss explains why she's avoiding "shock deaths" in the show

"It has been a tremendous honor to get to know Erin and to create a show inspired by her. I am thrilled to be working with a dream cast led by the extraordinary Katey Sagal with the incredible Tara Nicole Weyr directing."

Later, she took to Twitter to get a little more personal and encourage any of her followers who might have aspirations of finding success as a screenwriter, to "keep going".

"If you're struggling in Hollywood please note that I wrote my first pilot 17 years ago," she tweeted.

"I've written 13 pilots in the interim and shot five of them. This is my first series order."


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