EXCLUSIVE: Rick Hoffman returns to the Suits universe in NBC‘s Suits LA on Sunday, and Deadline has your first look at Louis Litt as the actor teases what his character has been up to since we last saw him.
In last Sunday’s episode titled “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” Stuart (Josh McDermitt) has a run-in with actress Yvette Nicole Brown, Rick’s (Bryan Greenberg) client at Railsback Lane, while each picks up their children at school. Stuart has not been his usual self since becoming involved in a highly stressful case, which has been affecting every area of his life. At the school drop off, Stuart was jamming to the Nsync song in the episode title, distracting him from the road. His car accidentally taps Brown’s bumper, leading to a tense confrontation.
Rick asks Stuart to make things right with Brown, but fails miserably. This leads to Stuart being assigned to attend anger management, where he connects with Louis, who was also assigned sessions after going off on someone who insulted his cat.
Hoffman spoke to Deadline about Louis and Stuart’s meet-cute, Louis and Harvey’s (Gabriel Macht) relationship today, and leaving the door open for more.
Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt and Josh McDermitt as Stuart Lane
Nicole Weingart/NBC
DEADLINE: The Suits resurgence is giving fans more time with some of their favorite original characters and introducing a slew of new ones. How do you feel about continuing Louis Litt’s legacy on Suits LA?
RICK HOFFMAN: How can it be a bad thing? How could you complain? You’re so lucky to have something like this happen. Many shows never get noticed, nor get what we had for 9 years. There are shows out there of really good quality that get canceled for whatever reason, that don’t get a first life, much less a second, like we did. [The resurgence] is like winning several lottery tickets.
DEADLINE: So you had no hesitation?
RH: No. [The storyline] made perfect sense, because you hear anger management, you’re like, “Oh, yeah, well, what else would he be doing?” It completely fit. I had said before that the actors on this show need to find their own space to find that chemistry and lightning in a bottle. If one’s so lucky, it’s a rare thing. So I was surprised that it was early that I got a call, but I’d always talked with Aaron [Korsh] about, “Oh, what if?” before Suits LA. Nothing materialized, but it was such a cool door that opened because one of the characters has anger issues, and then you bring in good old stable, Louis.
DEADLINE: What can you tease about the appearance? What has Louis been up to?
RH: I hope I gave [the show] enough to enjoy. There certainly were all the greatest hits in there. When I read it, I was like, “You got to be kidding. You’re putting everything.” There’s mud and the ridiculousness with the cat.
DEADLINE: How does Louis enter the story?
RH: When we see him in the episode, he’s being sent to anger management because he punched a lawyer. You think it’s because he said something about his family member, but it was about his cat. That’s where he runs into Stuart, who is there for all his issues, and they become Federale friends, a special type of friend who are friends when things come down to it. If you were thrown into a jail in Mexico by the Federales, that’s the friend you call to get you out. That’s the friendship they established.
DEADLINE: Does the storyline end where Louis could pop back in the future?
RH: We’re leaving it open. Look, selfishly, it would be great. I would love to.
DEADLINE: Do we get an update about what Louis has been up to since the last time we saw him?
RH: In anger management, they have these moments of sharing. You find out Louis is running his firm, still with the love of his life, and [SPOILER].
DEADLINE: I was disappointed you and Gabriel Macht didn’t share screentime. That dynamic would be so great to revisit.
RH: You never know, never say, never.
DEADLINE: What would Harvey’s relationship with Louis be like today?
RH: I think they’re good. I think they’re better than they ever have been because they both found balance in their lives to a certain degree. Louis is obviously still punching people because they talk about his cat, but I think he’s evolved when it comes to Harvey and Donna. At least, one would like to think.
DEADLINE: Will Louis meet Ted (Stephen Amell), or will he find out about Harvey and Daniel Hardman (David Costabile) having been around?
RH: Everything takes place in this facility across two days. There was no reference to that side of the world. It’s more of what’s happening at this facility between the two of them and how they ultimately get to know a lot about each other. It’s pretty much a way to connect that world to Louis’ world. So if there ever was a future, you now have that door.
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This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.