Paramount+ has ordered Ray Donovan spin-off The Donovans, Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett will write the series with Guy Ritchie directing.
Over the past few years, Top Boy grew from a fairly niche Channel 4 shows into one of Britain’s biggest dramas, courtesy of a commission from Netflix after Channel 4 cancelled the show after its third series. The fifth ans final series aired last year.
Creator Ronan Bennett has now set his next project. The Donovans will expand on the world of Ray Donovan, the crime drama headlined by Liev Schreieber. It followed the titular character, a fixer who arranges bribes and payoffs for insalubrious individuals. The cast also included Jon Voight, Paula Malcomson, Dash Mihok and Eddie Marsan. It ran for 82 episodes over seven series from 2013 to 2020, which was followed by Ray Donovan: The Movie a television film broadcast in 2022.
The Donovans is described as “an extension of the Ray Donovan franchise”. The description reads as follows:
With the most powerful clients in Europe, The Donovans will see family fortunes and reputations at risk, odd alliances unfold, and betrayal around every corner; and while the family might be London’s most elite fixers today, the nature of their business means there is no guarantee what’s in store tomorrow. The Donovans follows two generations of gangsters, the businesses they run, the complex relationships they weave and the man they call upon to fix their problem.
Guy Ritchie is set to direct and executive produce, with Bennett writing all ten episodes. No cast details have been confirmed.
Guy Ritchie’s next series, The Gentlemen, based on his 2019 film, stars Theo James, Vinnie Jones, Kaya Scodelario, Giancarlo Esposito, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Peter Serafinowicz. It will stream on Netflix from the 7th March.
The Donovans will stream on Paramount+, we’ll keep you updated as we hear more.
