David Farnor | On 30, Apr 2023

“How do you think we survived all this time?” That’s the sound of Top Boy returning to Netflix – and a new teaser gives us a first look at the third and final season.

The Channel 4 drama, which initially ended after its second season, has continued to live on through Netflix with two more instalments, and now, the streaming giant is bringing back the series for a concluding chapter, once again written by creator Ronan Bennett and comprising 10 episodes.

The series sees Dushane return from exile to London’s Hackney Town to reclaim his throne in the highly lucrative drug market. He teams up with Sully, 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.

Ashley Walters (Bulletproof, Sugarhouse) and Kane Robinson will reprise their roles as Dushane and Sully, with regulars Simbi Ajikawo, Jasmine Jobson, Saffron Hocking and Araloyin Oshunremi also returning. Barry Keoghan and Brian Gleeson will play new characters Jonny and Tadgh.

You can see them in action in September, when the season premieres on Netflix UK.

 

Barry Keoghan and Brian Gleeson join Top Boy Season 3

7th July 2022

Barry Keoghan (The Batman, American Animals) and Brian Gleeson (Bad Sisters, Peaky Blinders, Frank of Ireland) have joined the cast of Top Boy for its third and final season.

The Channel 4 drama, which initially ended after its second season, has continued to live on through Netflix with two more instalments, and now, the streaming giant is bringing back the series for a concluding chapter, once again written by creator Ronan Bennett and comprising 10 episodes.

The series sees Dushane return from exile to London’s Hackney Town to reclaim his throne in the highly lucrative drug market. He teams up with Sully, 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 the pair.

Ashley Walters (Bulletproof, Sugarhouse) and Kane Robinson will reprise their roles as Dushane and Sully, with regulars Simbi Ajikawo, Jasmine Jobson, Saffron Hocking and Araloyin Oshunremi also returning. Barry and Brian will play new characters Jonny and Tadgh.

Production on Season 3 is already underway in London. Episodes 1 to 4 will be directed by Myriam Raja, who was previously part of the Top Boy Season 1 mentee program, with Will Stefan Smith returning to direct the final two episodes.

 

Netflix renews Top Boy for third and final season

31st March 2022

Top Boy will return once more to Netflix for a third – and final – chapter.

Created and written by Ronan Bennett, the hit UK crime drama was resurrected by Netflix years after its Channel 4, with Season 2 debuting earlier this month. It saw Ashley Walters (Bulletproof, Small Island), Kane Robinson, Micheal Ward (The A List, Blue Story), Simbi Ajikawo ‘Little Simz’ reprise their roles, joined by Jasmine Jobson (Lie Low, Obey) returning as Jaq,  Lisa Dwan (Trust) as Lizzie, Kadeem Ramsay (Sex Education, Blue Story) as Kit, Saffron Hocking (London Kills, White Gold) as Jaq’s sister Lauryn, Jolade Obasola as Amma, and Hope Ikpoku (Bulletproof) and Araloylin Oshunremi (Heartstopper) as Jamie’s brother’s Aaron and Stef.

Season 2 caught up with Dushane (Walters) on a roll. Life with Shelley (Ajikawo) was going well and he was dreaming of a future away from the road. But then a problem from an unexpected quarter arose and threatened to bring it all crashing down. Meanwhile, Sully (Robinson) was trying to find peace and get his life back on track. But when family came calling he was forced to ride back into the only world he knows.

Now, just a couple of weeks later, Netflix has confirmed that the programme will be back again, and that Season 3 will decide once and for all who can reign as Top Boy of Summerhouse.

Myriam Raja, who was a director mentee on Season 1 of Netflix’s incarnation of the series – and went on to direct Episode 6 on Season 2 – will serve as lead director on the new season.

Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson said: “For those that have followed the journey from the start, you will know how much this show means to everyone on our team and we wholeheartedly know how much it means to you. These characters have been a part of our lives for over a decade now and without everyone’s support we couldn’t have come this far.

“While the journeys of Dushane and Sully have remained at the core of the show, the new characters that have entered the world of Top Boy have become a key part of the show’s legacy, representing each new storyline in a raw, authentic way.

“With all this being said, and staying true to our original goal, every story must have an ending and so season three will be our finale. A chance to come full circle and end the journey in the right way. We’re very excited about what’s next and thank you for riding with us. We appreciate you. See you again soon.”

Filming for the new season will begin this summer in the UK.

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