The creator of Top Boy, Ronan Bennett, has confirmed he is in talks with Netflix over making a potential spin-off of the hit show.
The writer, 68, told BBC Radio 5’s Nihal Arthanayake that the spin-off would centre around Jaq Lawrence from the original, who is played by Jasmine Jobson.
Ronan added that the production company Cowboy is also involved, while rapper Drake, who served as executive producer on the show, is on board.
He said: ‘We are talking to Netflix about a spin-off, which will be around Jaq,’ before joking that the streaming company will ‘probably be angry with me for mentioning it’.
However, he added: ‘I’ve learned through bitter experience not to talk too much about shows that are in the future.
The creator of Top Boy, Ronan Bennett, has confirmed he is in talks with Netflix over making a potential spin-off of the hit show (Kane Roninson and Ashley Walters pictured in show)
The writer, 68, told BBC Radio 5’s Nihal Arthanayake that the spin-off would centre around Jaq Lawrence from the original, who is played by Jasmine Jobson (pictured)
‘You just never know if they’re going to get made. And in fact, most shows that are developed actually don’t get made.
‘You can write the script and, for whatever reason, they don’t get made. So you end up looking like a bit of a fool for mentioning it. But I have hopes that this will work.’
Ronan said that the team have also discussed the option of making a Top Boy prequel, movie or even a stage musical instead, but said these conversation are still in the very early stages.
He said: ‘I think that the world of Top Boy, the world that we jointly created, is so rich, it’s so deep, and it has that fanatical following that it’s something that still has life in it.
‘Some shows reach their end, and you kind of go, “Thank god they’ve ended, I love that show, but they’ve run out of steam”.
‘But I do feel that there’s more juice to squeeze from Top Boy.’
Jaq started in the show in series three, as a member of the Summerhouse dealers and Dris’ second in command, before rising up the ranks.
She starts a romance with Becks, played by Adwoa Aboah, and takes in her pregnant sister Lauryn to protect her from her abusive boyfriend.
Ronan (pictured in 2019) added that the production company Cowboy is also involved, while rapper Drake, who served as executive producer on the show, is on board
Jaq started in the show in series three, as Dris’ second in command, before rising up the ranks and starting a romance with Becks, played by Adwoa Aboah (pictured together on show)
But after Lauryn dies from an overdose in the bath, Jaq decides to leave the dealing life and run away with Becks and her nephew.
The character is played by actress Jasmine, 28, who has received critical acclaim for her performance and been twice nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the BAFTAs.
And earlier this month she received rave reviews for her lead performance in ITV series Platform 7.
Jasmine is currently in a relationship with her Top Boy co-star, Kadeem Ramsay, who played Kit on the show.
In an interview with Digital Spy, she spoke about the importance of playing an out black lesbian on the show.
Jasmine said: ‘It’s still a taboo. And I think it’s very important that we see it, because it happens. I’ve got lots and lots of friends that are gay or lesbian.
‘So [I asked] them what have they experienced [and] how they dealt with it, so I would kind of know how I was going to portray that scene.’.
The character is played by actress Jasmine, 28, who has received critical acclaim for her performance and been twice nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the BAFTAs (pictured in July)
And earlier this month she r eceived rave reviews for her lead performance in ITV series Platform 7 (pictured on show)
Jasmine is currently in a relationship with her Top Boy co-star, Kadeem Ramsay, who played Kit on the show (pictured together in November)
