Cult Favorite Netflix Crime Drama Revival Will Focus on Fan-Favorite ‘Top Boy’ Character Jaq

Cult favorite crime drama Top Boy is getting not one but two spinoffs, Netflix announced Wednesday. 

The streamer has greenlit both Jonny Boy and Jaq, it revealed on August 26. Both shows will begin filming in 2027. 

‘Jaq’ spinoff will focus on Jasmine Jobson’s ‘Top Boy’ character 

Jaq will focus on Jaq Lawrence, a high-ranking member of the Summerhouse gang played by Jasmine Jobson. Jobson will return in the six-episode series that will explore Jaq’s story beyond Summerhouse. Jaq is created and written by Ryan Calais Cameron.

“Can finally say it!!” Jobson shared on her Instagram Story after the announcement. “We got our show!!!!!”

“Lock up your Mrs cos I’m coming back,” she captioned another post. 

In the Top Boy finale, Jaq was one of the few people to emerge unscathed (relatively speaking). After deciding to walk away from the drug game following the devastating death of her sister, Lauryn, Jaq stole drugs from Sully (Kane “Kano” Robinson) with the goal of setting up a new life for herself, her girlfriend, and her nephew. Dushane (Ashley Walters) then stole the drugs for himself, triggering a deadly showdown between him and Sully. Sully killed Dushane, and then an unseen assailant shot Sully in the back of the head. While the shooter’s face wasn’t seen, some speculated it might have been Jaq, who had a strong motive to take out Sully and had told her girlfriend Becks (Adwoa Aboah) that “Everything’s gonna be okay.”

Barry Keoghan to star in ‘Jonny Boy’ 

The five-episode Top Boy prequel series Jonny Boy will see Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan reprise his role as Irish gangster Jonny McGee. Jonny was an important character in Top Boy Season 5. After brutally taking out their Moroccan rivals, Jonny and his his family became the main drug suppliers for the Summerhouse gang. That move ultimately led to a violent retaliation from Dushane and Sully . 

Keoghan’s Wolfcub Productions pitched the show to Netflix. The streamer was “so supportive in wanting to bring our passion project forward, exploring Jonny McGee’s origin story through a new bold lens,” Keoghan and co-founder Des Byrne told Tudum. 

Drake will return as an executive producer for both Top Boy spinoffs. The rapper was a fan of the show, which aired for two season between 2011 and 2013 before it was canceled. Drake became an advocate for its revival. It eventually returned in 2019, with three seasons streaming on Netflix. 

All seasons of Top Boy are streaming on Netflix. 

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