Irish actor Barry Keoghan will return to the world of Top Boy to star in a new five-episode Netflix prequel series titled Jonny Boy.
Keoghan will reprise his role as Jonny McGee, a character who featured in the fifth season of the British crime drama. Written by original show creator Ronan Bennett, the upcoming production focuses on McGee's backstory.
According to Deadline, Keoghan's character appeared in season five of Top Boy as a high-ranking member of the Irish mafia. In that storyline, McGee trafficked drugs in London on behalf of his uncle, Tadgh McGee.
Keoghan and his business partner Des Byrne will serve as executive producers on the series through their company, Wolfclub Productions, alongside co-producer Cowboy Films.
In a statement, Keoghan and Byrne said they presented their vision and concept to Netflix and executive producers, who warmly supported their effort to move forward with the passion project and explore the origin story of Jonny McGee through a bold new lens.
Second spin-off series
Jonny Boy is not the only extension of the franchise planned by the streaming platform. Netflix has also greenlit a second spin-off series with the working title Jaq, which will be written by Ryan Calais Cameron.
The secondary spin-off will focus on the character played by Jasmine Jobson, who won a BAFTA award for her performance in the original series.
Filming for both Jonny Boy and Jaq is expected to begin in 2027.
Top Boy background and cast
Top Boy is a British television crime drama created and written by Ronan Bennett. Set primarily on the fictional Summerhouse housing estate in the London Borough of Hackney, the series chronicles the lives of individuals involved in drug dealing and gang violence in East London. The show first aired on Channel 4 in 2011 before Netflix revived it for three additional seasons starting in 2019.
Keoghan is an Irish actor who starred in the 2023 film Saltburn. He has gained international recognition for his performances across film and television, earning an Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA award during his career.
Jobson is a British actress who gained widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Jaq in Top Boy, earning a British Academy Television Award for Supporting Actress.
