The dark universe of Top Boy will return to life on Netflix. The streaming service has ordered Jonny Boy, a new five-episode spin-off series from the acclaimed British crime drama that has won four BAFTAs, including Best Drama. Written once again by Ronan Bennett, the prequel will bring Barry Keoghan back in the role of Jonny McGee, the character he portrayed in the fifth and final season of the original series.
Jonny Boy: The Plot of the Top Boy Spin-Off
Set in the working-class districts of East London, where drug dealing and crime shape the lives of youths and adults, Top Boy has told the story of Dushane (Ashley Walters), an ambitious dealer who aimed to take control of the drug market, and Sully (Kane Robinson), his old friend and partner, more impulsive and tormented. The two strove to survive and maintain their grip on power, while their choices had increasingly dramatic consequences.
In the later episodes of the series, Keoghan’s Jonny McGee was an antagonist, a menacing high-ranking member of the Irish mafia who dealt drugs in London on behalf of his uncle, Tadgh McGee (Brian Gleeson). “We presented our vision and our idea to Netflix and to the executive producers, who were enthusiastic about carrying forward our project, exploring the origins of Jonny McGee through a new and bold perspective,” Keoghan, also one of the executive producers of the series, said in a joint statement with Des Byrne, his partner at Wolfclub Productions.
Not Only Jonny Boy, Also Jaq
Jonny Boy is one of the two Top Boy spin-offs ordered by Netflix in recent hours. The platform will also host Jaq (working title), centered on the eponymous character played by Jasmine Jobson, Jaq Lawrence, who won a BAFTA for her performance in the series. Written by Ryan Calais Cameron, the extension will follow the woman’s efforts to build a life away from the drug world and crime.
In the finale of Top Boy, after her sister’s death, Jaq had stolen 25 kg of drugs from Sully to procure the money needed to secure a future for her nephew, Lauryn’s son. In the end, though, she tried to make amends by returning the loot. She then returned to Becks (Adwoa Aboah), her partner, with the child in tow, convinced that everything would go the best. Bennett will also contribute to this spin-off as an executive producer.
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