Barry Keoghan Leads A Dark Gangster Origin Story

Netflix is ​​not giving up on the world of “Top Boy”. On the contrary, one of the most notable British crime series in recent years is getting a new chapter, and at its center will be  Barry Keoghan, who leads the new series “Jonny Boy”. At the same time, Netflix is ​​also preparing “Jaq”, a spinoff dedicated to one of the striking characters from the original story.

The first, “Jonny Boy,” goes back in time to tell the origin story of one of this universe’s new characters. In the center is the Irish gangster Jonny McGee, who will be portrayed by Barry Keoghan, an actor nominated for an Oscar and one of the most interesting representatives of the new generation of European cinema.

The series will have five episodes, and behind it is the original creator of “Top Boy” Ronan Bennett, who is signing the script. Directed by Ali Abbasi, an auteur whose previous works have shown a penchant for dark, psychologically complex stories. It is this combination that suggests that “Jonny Boy” will not be just an extension of the existing franchise, but an attempt to see its world from a different angle.

Barry Keoghan will also executive produce, along with Des Byrne of Wolfcub Productions. Executive producers also include Ronan Bennett, Charles Steel, Alasdair Flind, Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Adel “Future” Nur, Maverick Carter and Jamal Henderson.

The second project, “Jaq,” stays closer to the timeline of the original series. The focus is on Jacqueline, a character familiar to the audience from “Top Boy”, who will be portrayed again by Jasmine Jobson. The new series will follow her life after the events at the Summerhouse estate and offer a chance to see the character who has already made a strong impression on viewers from a more intimate perspective.

“Jaq” will have six episodes and was created and written by Ryan Calais Cameron. Cameron and Jasmine Jobson will executive produce, alongside a production team led by Bennett, Steel, Flind, Graham, Nur, Carter and Henderson.

What makes both projects particularly interesting is the fact that Netflix isn’t trying to simply repeat the formula of the original series. “Top Boy” built its status through a combination of crime drama, social realism and a striking portrait of life in East London. New titles have the opportunity to expand that world, but also to explore its lesser-known stories.

“Jonny Boy” attracts special attention. In recent years, Keoghan has established himself as an actor capable of being extremely charismatic and unsettling at the same time, which is why the role of a gangster is a natural, but potentially very intriguing continuation of his previous work.

There are no official premiere dates yet, but Netflix has confirmed that both series are set to begin filming in 2027.