“Sons of Anarchy” creator Kurt Sutter may not be involved in Charlie Hunnam’s upcoming FX series “Legends,” but Hunnam made sure to speak with him before moving forward with the unexpected reunion.
FX has ordered the limited series, which will reunite Hunnam with several members of the original “Sons of Anarchy” cast. Instead of bringing their characters back, the actors will play fictionalized versions of themselves in a story that begins when they reunite at a fan convention and find themselves facing a real-world threat.
Hunnam developed the project with Jonathan Groff, while Sutter’s name was noticeably absent from the announcement. The original series creator has now explained why — and made it clear that Hunnam has his support.
Kurt Sutter Reveals Charlie Hunnam Asked for His ‘Blessing’
Sutter addressed “Legends” in an Instagram video after receiving questions about whether he was involved.
“I know the news about Charlie’s show hit today, and I’m beginning to get some queries about it,” Sutter said. “I just want to say my piece. I’m not involved with ‘Legends’ at all — nor should I be. It has nothing to do with the characters I created, or the mythology. It’s really about the show and the legacy of the show, and, quite frankly, there are thousands of people who are responsible for that legacy.”
Sutter then revealed that Hunnam personally contacted him while preparing to pitch the idea to FX.
“I just want folks to know that Charlie came to me when he was in the process of pitching this to the network to ask for my blessing, knowing that the IP would probably not be able to be invoked for various reasons of legalese stuff,” Sutter said. “I gave Charlie my full blessing. I wish nothing but the best for him in this project.”
Sutter also has a personal connection to “Legends.” His wife, Katey Sagal, who played Gemma Teller Morrow on “Sons of Anarchy,” is returning.
“My wife is in the project. I have nothing but love for [FX Networks chairman] John Landgraf and the folks at FX who have been so good to me, so generous,” Sutter added. “So it has my full-blown support.”
Sutter has even gotten an early look at the material.
“Watch this (expletive), because I’ve taken a peek at the script that was perhaps just lying on my wife’s knitting table, and it’s really so well done,” he said. “I think you’ll dig it. I love Charlie to death, and I think you will have mad love for this project as well.”
‘Sons of Anarchy’ Stars Are Returning for ‘Legends’
Hunnam won’t be alone when he returns to the world surrounding “Sons of Anarchy.”
FX confirmed that Sagal, Ron Perlman, Maggie Siff, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Kim Coates and Theo Rossi will also appear. More cast members are expected to be announced.
Coates also praised Hunnam for finding a different way to reunite the cast instead of attempting to recreate the original show.
“I’m so proud of Charlie,” Coates said in a statement. “I’ve known this guy a long time, and to see him step into this as a creator and writer and bring all of us back together in such a completely unexpected way is pretty special.”
“He could have tried to re-create ‘Sons,’ but that’s not what this is,” Coates continued. “It’s smart, it’s wild, it’s funny, it’s dangerous — and it has Charlie’s fingerprints all over it.”
FX Entertainment president Nick Grad called the project “a love letter to the series and a fun meta twist on what fans think they know.”
Charlie Hunnam Has Another Major Series Coming Before ‘Legends’
Before the “Sons of Anarchy” cast reunites, Hunnam is working on another television project.
The 46-year-old actor was spotted filming the upcoming BBC and MGM+ series “Legacy of Spies” with Agnes O’Casey in Liverpool, England, on August 20.
Hunnam will play experienced British intelligence operative Alec Leamas in the eight-part Cold War drama. The cast also includes Daniel Brühl, Felix Kammerer, Devrim Lingnau and Matthew Macfadyen.
“Legacy of Spies” will air on BBC One in the U.K. and MGM+ in the U.S.
