Interview With PUBLIC INTEREST Creator David Barrett

Hollywood North News got the chance to speak with Director/Producer David Barrett the man behind the legal drama pilot Public Interest.

David Barrett’s career spans more than two decades and more than 500 television and film credits. Barrett has directed more than 160 episodes and produced more than 225 episodes across some of television’s most successful franchises, including Tracker, Twisted Metal, Law & Order, The Mentalist, Revenge, Fear the Walking Dead, Star Trek: Discovery, and Blue Bloods, where he served as a key director-producer for nearly a decade.

Set inside a nonprofit public interest law firm in Washington, D.C., Public Interest follows Ingrid Erickson, an attorney unexpectedly thrust into the firm’s top leadership role after its longtime president suffers a sudden heart attack, and her unconventional team as they fight for everyday people facing impossible odds. As the attorneys navigate high-stakes legal battles, they must also contend with office tensions, personal relationships, and the emotional toll of trying to do the right thing in an increasingly complicated world.

HNN: Do you think a legal drama will resonate with the public with how divided things are politically?

Though our country is deeply divided politically. At its core, Public Interest is about getting the right and the left talking again. Our goal is to show viewers how to engage in honestconversations without aggression or violence, approaching one another with kindness, humility, and a sincere desire to understand different perspectives.

As I told the cast and crew, we must lead by examples. The cases we explore will often enter political territory. Before debating those issues, we first invest in understanding each other’s backstories – how we were raised, our socioeconomic circumstances, education, and lifeexperiences. Only then can we approach these conversations with true empathy and without ego. My hope is that common sense will reemerge through these exchanges.

HNN: Why Washington, DC, which puts the capital ahead of cities like New York or Chicago?

I chose to set this constitutional law series in Washington, D.C. because it is where the Supreme Court sits and where all political power converges. The location also serves as a constant visual foundation for the show. Our law firm’s windows reflect the Capitol on one side and overlook the Washington Monument on the other. These iconic monuments quietly remind viewers of the foundational principles of our nation.

HNN: I’m already pulling for you as I see you helped take viewers on the crazy ride which was the TV series ZOO and I see that James Wolk also popped up here. Is that connection what led to his involvement?

I worked with James Wolk on Zoo, and that experience led me to cast him in Public Interest. He was incredibly gracious with his fellow actors and a true cheerleader for the crew. When casting this show, I chose actors I believed I could work with successfully for the next ten years. James is absolutely one of those people.

HNN: Do you think that Public Interest can be a bright spot for viewers, something that may inspire them to talk with people they may have perhaps drifted away from due to clashing views?

I believe Public Interest will be a bright spot for audiences. It will inspire people to reconnect with those they’ve drifted apart from due to differing views. Through cases like eminent domain, asset forfeiture, and government overreach – issues that have personally affected many Americans viewers will be inspired by constitutional lawyers fighting for the public good. These cases resonate because they have heart. When a show has heart, it becomes relatable. When it’s relatable, it becomes commercial. That is exactly what Public Interest is.

This show offers the audience a powerful gift: a model for how to communicate across divides. The right and the left must start talking again, and that is precisely what this series aims to do. If we succeed, we can move the needle for humanity. After all, we did not start as Republicans or Democrats. We started as Americans. Public Interest is not about advancing any single ideologyor telling people what to think. It is about defending the civil liberties that make honest disagreement possible, and ensuring those in power cannot silence voices they disagree with.

HNN: Did you always know you wanted Patricia Heaton for Ingrid?

Patricia Heaton was my first choice for her role. A multiple Emmy Winner with extensive experience in both comedy and drama, she’s also an incredible wife and mother who knows how to lead a family. Since our show is centered around a family of lawyers with very different personalities, I needed someone who could inspire them all. Patricia brings the perfect combination of comedic timing, dramatic depth, and natural leadership. I feel truly fortunate to have her on this show.

HNN: Are you looking to have storylines that are snatched from the headlines or instead looking to craft storylines with similar themes but still distinct?

In the cases that follow, we will examine thought-provoking stories that spark real conversations, challenging us to examine our ideals and interpretations of the Constitution for the greater good. I am deeply grateful to MPI for believing in this project. They have given me complete creative freedom to explore difficult and often tense subject matter honestly, without any pressure to conform to a particular ideological agenda.