Netflix is officially reviving British crime drama 'Top Boy' — produced by Drake and LeBron James' SpringHill

Trey Mangum

November 08, 2017

Updated October 09, 2023

Netflix is officially reviving British crime drama 'Top Boy'  — produced by Drake and LeBron James' SpringHill
(l-r): Tareek (Sean Sagar), Dris (Shone Romulus), Dushane (Ashley Walters) & Sully (Kane Robinson).

Netflix is officially confirming that they are bringing back UK crime drama, Top Boy.

The show ran for two seasons in the UK before ending in 2013. Those two seasons are now available globally on Netflix.

After 2 successful seasons, there was talk of a third but the network (Channel 4 in the UK) decided against the idea, and effectively put Top Boy to bed for good in 2013, much to the disappointment of the series’ many fans.

Top Boy is set on the fictional Summerhouse housing estate in Hackney, East London, aims to provide an insight into life in London estates, and how drugs affect everyone living there.

(l-r): Tareek (Sean Sagar) & Chantelle (Letitia Wright). This picture may be used solely for Channel 4 programme publicity purposes in connection with the current broadcast of the programme(s) featured in the national and local press and listings. Not to be reproduced or redistributed for any use or in any medium not set out above (including the internet or other electronic form) without the prior written consent of Channel 4 Picture Publicity: picturepublicity@channel4.co.uk
Photo: Channel 4

The new season of the show will pick up as Dushane (Ashley Walters) returns from exile to his home in London to reclaim his throne in the highly lucrative drug market. He teams up with Sully (Kane Robinson), 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 Dushane and Sully.

In 2015, Drake first expressed interest in reviving the show, and there was even a report earlier this year that he would star in the series after buying the rights.

The new Top Boy will be written by original creator Roman Bennett, and original executive producers Bennett, Charles Steel, Alasdair Flind and Yann Demange are returning.

New producers are Drake, his business partner Adel “Future” Nur, and for LeBron James’ SpringHill Entertainment, Maverick Carter and Jamal Henderson.

“We couldn’t be more excited for Netflix members around the world and a new generation of fans to discover the authentic, raw and real world of Top Boy. Drake came to us several months ago with a passion to help bring this series back to life, and we’re thrilled to support the original creative team to do just that,” said Cindy Holland, Vice President, Original Content for Netflix.

This could be the main foray into television and film production for Drake, who also has an untitled TV series in the works with Anonymous Content, a project with film studio A24 and also projects at Apple.

Top Boy will return as a Netflix original in 2019 with a 10-episode season.