Why Top Boy Was Canceled (And How Netflix Saved The Beloved Series)

Netflix has shown a strong eye for British television with Emmy winners like "Baby Reindeer," and "Adolescence," as well as backing the long-awaited "Peaky Blinders" film, "The Immortal Man." One canceled British crime drama that was fortunate enough to be resurrected on the streamer was "Top Boy." A push from a multi-million record-selling musical icon probably helped, as well.

Created by Ronan Bennett, "Top Boy" debuted on Channel 4 in 2011 with a first season consisting of just four episodes. Set in the London borough of Hackney, the series follows the uneasy partnership between Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (U.K. grime music artist Kane Robinson, also known as Kano), who manage a drug business from the council estate tower block, Summerhouse. Upon its initial release, the first season received rave reviews and still holds a near-100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In 2013, the series returned with its second season, which also received a positive reception.

Despite the praise, Channel 4 chose not to invest further, canceling the show and leaving fans on a disastrous cliffhanger. One person eager to see a conclusion was rap icon Drake, who became a fan of the series and made calls to Netflix on its behalf. From there, Dushane and Sully were on course to be reunited, regardless of the terms they left things on last time.

After the show was canceled in 2014, it took several years before a return to Summerhouse became possible, driven largely by Drake's persistence. Speaking to BAFTA Guru about the show's return, Bennett said, "When 'Top Boy' was canceled, it was one of those ones I wasn't able to shrug off. It meant too much. When I heard that Drake was interested, I didn't pay it a lot of mind, partly because I didn't know who he was."

Thankfully, talks were had, deals were made, and in 2019, "Top Boy" returned, this time to a worldwide audience who were getting their first introduction to Dushane and Sully. The revival became a major success, earning multiple BAFTA nominations and awards, including best drama.

After three seasons on Netflix, the British crime drama series reached its planned finale in 2023, closing Dushane and Sully's story while leaving room for future expansion. It was revealed in 2024 that a "Top Boy" spin-off was being discussed with Netflix, this time shifting the focus to Jasmine Jobson's character on the show, Jaq Lawrence.