Barry Keoghan will reprise his role as Jonny McGee in Jonny Boy, a new five-party series for Netflix written and created by Ronan Bennett, according to announcements made at the Edinburgh TV Festival. Keoghan originally played the menacing Irish mob member in the crime drama Top Boy, distributing drugs in London alongside his onscreen uncle and partner-in-crime Tadhg McGee, played by Brian Gleeson, before clashing with the Summerhouse gang.
Production Details and Origins of Jonny Boy
The upcoming series is produced by WOLFCUB Productions, a production company owned by Barry Keoghan and Des Byrne. According to a statement released by the production company, the project was born from pitching a distinct vision to Netflix and executive producers. “WOLFCUB Productions is proud to bring Jonny McGee – the character introduced in Top Boy’s third and final season – to the screen in Jonny Boy,” the company stated. “We pitched our vision and idea to Netflix and the Executive Producers and they were so supportive in wanting to bring our passion project forward, exploring Jonny McGee’s origin story through a new bold lens.” Keoghan originally landed his initial role in Top Boy—which began on Channel 4 before moving to Netflix—after contacting the show’s creators directly to express that he was a fan.
New Netflix Scripted Series and Creatives
Alongside the Keoghan project, Netflix used the Edinburgh TV Festival to commission several other high-profile titles. Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee will debut a new six-part mockumentary series titled JIG, set in the competitive world of Irish dancing and scheduled to shoot in Northern Ireland next year. The synopsis outlines a rivalry between best friends Cara and Fletcher from the struggling Sweeney School of Dance in Derry and a slick, sponsored operation as both teams journey toward the World Championships. Additionally, Bridgerton and Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan joins Naomi Scott, Josh Finan, Imelda Staunton, Toby Jones, and Dominic West in Untitled Dahl Stories For Adults, a series based on a collection of Dahl’s short stories for adults that begins production next week in Manchester and across the North of England.
Drama and Comedy Additions to the Streaming Slate
Netflix’s broader scripted slate also features The Unheard, starring Kate Winslet and Maxine Peake as two sisters on the run following an act of vengeance goes wrong. Clive Owen, Orlando Norman, David Shields, and Anya Taylor Joy lead the cast in How To Kill Your Family, adapted from Bella Mackie’s bestselling novel. Meanwhile, family comedy Marbles stars Robert Webb, Timothy Spall, Alexandra Roach, and Denise Welch, following “a couple raising ridiculously lively young boys, while caring for ridiculously difficult ageing parents, and coping with the craziness of life in the middle.”
Did you know? Barry Keoghan originally secured his role in Top Boy by reaching out directly to the show’s creators to let them know he was a fan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jonny Boy about?
Jonny Boy is a new five-party series exploring the background of Jonny McGee, a character Barry Keoghan originally played in Top Boy.
Who is creating Jonny Boy?
The series is written and created by Ronan Bennett and produced by WOLFCUB Productions, which is owned by Barry Keoghan and Des Byrne.
Where will Lisa McGee’s JIG be filmed?
JIG is set to shoot in Northern Ireland next year.
Want to stay updated on the latest television commissions and streaming news? Subscribe to our newsletter or drop a comment below to share your thoughts on the upcoming Top Boy spin-off.