“Top Boy” started in the U.K. now it’s here. Rapper Drake is reviving the British drug-dealer drama via Netflix — and the stars are back on board.
The original series aired two seasons overseas on broadcast before ending in 2013; both are now globally available on Netflix. The next chapter, consisting of 10 new episodes, will be written by show creator Ronan Bennett and executive produced by the original creative team of Bennett, Charles Steel and Yann Demange.
Additionally, this new installment — which will premiere as a Netflix original series in 2019 — adds Drake, DJ Adel “Future the Prince” Nur, and LeBron James’ business partners Maverick Carter and Jamal Henderson as executive producers.
The new episodes pick up as Dushane (Ashley Walters, pictured above) returns from exile to his home in London to reclaim his throne in the highly lucrative drug market, per Netflix. He teams up with Sully (Kane Robinson), his spiritual brother, partner, and sometime rival who is also returning to the same streets after his own form of exile — prison — comes to an end. Awaiting them both is Jamie, the young, hungry and ruthless gang leader whose ambitions leave no place for Dushane and Sully.
“I am delighted to be reunited once more with the Top Boy team — our wonderful cast and my partners at Cowboy Films — and to have Drake and SpringHill as new collaborators,” series creator Ronan Bennett said in a statement. “And I could not be prouder to be doing the show with Netflix.”
“We couldn’t be more excited for Netflix members around the world and a new generation of fans to discover the authentic, raw and real world of Top Boy,” added Cindy Holland, vice president, Original Content for Netflix. “Drake came to us several months ago with a passion to help bring this series back to life, and we’re thrilled to support the original creative team to do just that.”