Netflix Developing Lincoln Lawyer Spinoff Headlined by Cobie Smulders
Netflix is developing a spinoff of The Lincoln Lawyer built around Cobie Smulders' character Artemisia "Emi" Finch, according to an exclusive report from Deadline.
The script is being written by executive producers Ted Humphrey, Dailyn Rodriguez and Matthew J. Lieberman, with A+E Studios producing. The three pitched the concept to Netflix, where it was reportedly well received — the streamer bought the project in the room and commissioned a script for a quick turnaround. A green light is believed to be contingent on closing deals with all key parties, a process that was ongoing as of the report. Netflix declined to comment.
The news arrives three months after Netflix confirmed in May 2026 that Season 5 of The Lincoln Lawyer will be its final season (Deadline). The spinoff would keep the franchise alive on the platform even as the mothership series wraps.
Emi Finch was introduced at the end of Season 4 and Smulders was promoted to series regular for Season 5. In the fifth season's story, Emi brings a case to defence attorney Mickey Haller — a plea to help free a wrongfully convicted woman, which he takes on (Deadline).
There is a structural reason Emi exists at all. She is an original character created for the series, not one drawn from Michael Connelly's novels. Mickey's half-brother Harry Bosch — a key Connelly figure — is absent from The Lincoln Lawyer because Amazon owns the rights to that character. Emi fills part of that gap in Mickey's family dynamic (Deadline).
The series has been a steady performer for Netflix. The Lincoln Lawyer has spent 29 weeks on the Netflix Global Top 10 charts and accumulated 171 million views since 2023. Season 4 launched with 9 million views in its opening weekend, up from Season 3's debut of 7 million (Deadline). Season 4, based on Connelly's novel The Law of Innocence, premiered on 5 February 2026 with all 10 episodes released at once (Variety).
The show has also been an economic engine for California. Netflix estimates the first four seasons contributed over $425 million to the state's economy, employed more than 4,300 cast and crew, and filmed at over 50 locations across Los Angeles. The spinoff is planned to film in Los Angeles as well, if it qualifies for a California tax credit — the same incentive the mothership series has used (Deadline).
Smulders, known for How I Met Your Mother and the Marvel films, also recurs on Apple TV+'s Shrinking. She is represented by UTA and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman (Deadline).
The mothership series is executive produced by David E. Kelley, Ted Humphrey, Michael Connelly, Dailyn Rodriguez, Ross Fineman, Matthew J. Lieberman, Barry Jossen and Tana Jamieson, from A+E Studios.
For now, the spinoff exists only as a commissioned script. No episode order, production start date, or release window has been confirmed.
