Nearly three years after Top Boy’s soul-crushing finale ended Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully’s (Kane “Kano” Robinson) stories, we’re heading back to East London for two new series set in the world that creator Ronan Bennett built, beginning with Top Boy: Summerhouse, back in 2011.
Netflix announced two new series: Jonny Boy, one that brings back Barry Keoghan as the ruthless Jonny; and Jaq (a working title), which is built around Jacqueline, who will be played by Jasmine Jobson. Both were unveiled as part of a wider slate of new UK commissions during Netflix’s Spotlight session at the Edinburgh TV Festival.
Keoghan first appeared in Top Boy’s final season as Jonny, a violent Irish gangster whose brief but menacing time on the show was unforgettably captivating, while Jobson’s performance as Jaq earned her a BAFTA TV Best Supporting Actress award.
Now, both of these characters are getting their own show, so scroll on for everything to know so far.
Jonny Boy is a five-episode prequel with Keoghan reprising his role as Jonny. It will be written by creator Ronan Bennett, with Ali Abbasi directing.
“Wolfcub Productions is proud to bring Jonny McGee — the character introduced in Top Boy's third and final season — to the screen in JONNY BOY. We pitched our vision and idea to Netflix and the Executive Producers and they were so supportive in wanting to bring our passion project forward, exploring Jonny McGee’s origin story through a new bold lens,” said founders Barry Keoghan and Des Byrne.
Jaq is a six-episode series created and written by Ryan Calais Cameron, centered around Jobson’s character from Top Boy and her story beyond Summerhouse. When we last saw Jaq, she was fresh off trying to return 25 kilos of drugs she’d stolen from Sully’s stash, lying down with her concerned girlfriend, Becks (Adwoa Aboah), assuring her that “Everything’s gonna be okay.”
Drake was a fan of Top Boy: Summerhouse and became a vocal champion of the series, eventually acquiring the rights and pitching a revival that led to Top Boy on Netflix, which he joined as an executive producer, a role he will also carry into the next chapters.
Top Boy’s original creator, Ronan Bennett, will executive produce both shows through Easter Partisan Films. Additionally, Charles Steel and Alasdair Flind will executive produce both for Cowboy Films, along with Adel “Future” Nur for DreamCrew Entertainment. Rounding out the EP list are Maverick Carter and Jamal Henderson of SpringHill Studios, a Fulwell Entertainment label.
Beyond that, each show has its own additions. Keoghan and Abbasi will executive produce Jonny Boy, alongside Des Byrne for Wolfcub Productions. On Jaq, creators Cameron and Jobson both serve as executive producers as well.
Both series will begin filming in 2027, so check back with Tudum for future updates. In the meantime, catch up on all five seasons of Top Boy: Summerhouse and Top Boy on Netflix.
