When “Sons of Anarchy” ended in 2014, the series ended its seven-season run as one of television’s most successful and critically acclaimed dramas.
Echoing Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, the series told the story of Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), a member of a California biker gang led by Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman) — who married his mother Gemma Teller (Katie Sagal) after his father, the gang’s former leader, died under murky circumstances.
Now, FX is announcing that a new spinoff has been greenlit, with all the original cast returning — albeit not how fans might imagine.
Introducing ‘Legends’
FXDescribed as a “meta-thriller,” the new series is titled “Legends,” ordered to series without a pilot.
According to a press release announcing the upcoming series, “Legends” is guaranteed to subvert expectations.
“When the cast of ‘Sons of Anarchy’ reunites at a fan convention after more than a decade, the line between life and art blurs as the fractured brotherhood finds itself up against a real-world threat more dangerous than anything they ever faced in their show,” reads the series’ synopsis.
OG “Sons of Anarchy” stars will be returning — this time, however, not as their characters, but as their actual selves.
Hunnam (who’s also an executive producer) will lead the cast, joined by Perlman, Sagal, Maggie Siff, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Kim Coates and Theo Rossi.
Additional cast will be announced at a later date.
In addition to Hunnam, other producers include Jonathan Groff (who co-created the series with Hunnam), Rob Mac (of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Welcome to “Wrexham” fame), along with Nicholas Frenkel and Jackie Cohn. “Sons of Anarchy” creator Kurt Sutter has no involvement with “Legends.”
Charlie Hunnam’s Brainchild
FXPer the FX press release, “Legends” is based on an original idea cooked up by Hunnam. When he pitched it to the network, the response was immediate.
“When Charlie brought us this inspired idea, we instantly sparked to his bold and entertaining vision,” said Nick Grad, FX entertainment president.
“Charlie’s talents are on full display as a writer, performer and executive producer, leading the real-life brotherhood on an adventure that is both a love letter to the series and a fun meta twist on what fans think they know,” Grad added.
A Spinoff That’s Not a Spinoff
Given the brutal manner in which “Sons of Anarchy” concluded, having the actors play themselves is pretty much the only way that a spinoff would have made sense.
In the series’ final moments, Jax is speeding his chopper down a highway, with a small army of police cruisers in hot pursuit. Choosing to avoid his inevitable capture — which will certainly mean either life imprisonment or a death sentence — Jax instead takes his hands off the handlebars and deliberately drives head-first into an oncoming semi-trailer.
Meanwhile, sevearl other characters were viciously killed off during the course of the show, who would likewise not be able to return in a conventional spinoff (unless they came back as ghosts, zombies, vampires or the like).
Hunnam’s genius concept offers an opportunity to return to the “Sons of Anarchy” universe in the most unexpected of ways.
