Unfortunate – but partially expected – news was received last week when South Florida and the rest of the entertainment industry found out that the Starz series, Magic City would not be returning for a third season. The period drama, shot on location in Miami, followed the lives of mobsters, entertainers and important political figures in the fictional 1959 Miramar Playa hotel.
As it is the standard with most of its shows, Starz ordered Magic City straight to series. However, with minimal critical attention and a lack of audience growth during the second season, Starz was forced to pull the plug on the glitzy (and expensive) production.
Although the seductive setting wasn’t enough to keep Magic City on the air, the allure and mystique of Miami has other producers interested in keeping this famous city on the map. Shonda Rhimes, Executive Producer of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, has ordered two 22-episode dramas for next season. One of which is an hour long police drama centered on an eccentric detective and his systematic, rookie partner who solve cases together in the one and only sunshine city, Miami. Shonda Rhimes will not be writing for the show’s development season due to her showrunner responsibilities on Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. The script will instead be penned by Dana Calvo, creator of Made in Jersey. Calvo’s other credits include Franklin and Bash, Greek and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Shonda Rhimes and her producing partner, Betsy Beers, sold the untitled project to ABC with Calvo attached. It will be co-produced by ABC Studios.
There has not yet been any discussion about the new Shonda show filming in Dade County, but there’s something about Miami that keeps the city relevant in today’s sphere of entertainment. More to come.
