The original cast of Sons of Anarchy is back — but not as their old characters.
FX announced this week that actors Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal, Maggie Siff, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Kim Coates, and Theo Rossi would be playing versions of themselves in a new limited series titled Legends. Hunnam and Jonathan Groff developed the show and will executive produce it alongside Rob Mac, Nicholas Frenkel, and Jackie Cohn.
The high-concept plot finds the actors reuniting at a Sons of Anarchy fan convention, where they face a real-life threat more dangerous than anything on the show. In that respect, it’s in a similar vein to meta-movies like Galaxy Quest, Tropic Thunder, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
More will be revealed soon, but in the meantime, we know you have questions. Well, so do we! Let’s dive into the five biggest head-scratchers about Legends.
1. IS IT A REBOOT?
No, Legends is not a reboot of Sons of Anarchy, the gritty drama about a motorcycle club that ran for seven seasons (2008-14). It’s not a revival, either. Nor is it a direct spin-off like Mayans M.C. (2018-23). Instead, think of it like a reimagining of the franchise. For what it’s worth, FX is officially referring to Legends as a “meta-thriller” and an “original limited series.”
2. WILL KURT SUTTER BE INVOLVED?
The show’s original creator has given Legends his blessing and confirmed he has no part in the project. “I’m not involved with Legends at all — nor should I be,” he said on Instagram. “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.”
Due to “legalese stuff,” the Sons of Anarchy IP won’t be invoked, Sutter revealed. However, “I gave Charlie my full blessing. I wish nothing but the best for him in this project. My wife [Sagal] 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. So, it has my full-blown support.” He concluded: “Watch this motherf–ker!”
3. WHICH CAST MEMBERS ARE BACK?
Eight Sons of Anarchy cast members will portray versions of themselves in Legends: Charlie Hunnam (Jackson “Jax” Teller), Ron Perlman (Clarence “Clay” Morrow), Katey Sagal (Gemma Teller Morrow), Maggie Siff (Tara Knowles), Mark Boone Junior (Robert “Bobby Elvis” Munson), Tommy Flanagan (Filip “Chibs” Telford), Kim Coates (Alexander “Tig” Trager), and Theo Rossi (Juan-Carlos “Juice” Ortiz). More will be revealed at a later date.
Stars still waiting for a callback include Ryan Hurst (Harry “Opie” Winston), Dayton Callie (Wayne Unser), Drea de Matteo (Wendy Case), and Jimmy Smits (Neron “Nero” Padilla). Original cast members Johnny Lewis (Kip “Half-Sack” Epps) and William Lucking (Piermont “Piney” Winston) died in 2012 and 2021, respectively.
Taylor Sheridan, now better known as the uberproducer behind hit shows like Yellowstone and Landman, also appeared in a recurring role as David Hale, deputy chief of the Charming Police, in the first three seasons before getting killed off. Sheridan has said his bitter contract negotiations during Season 3 led him to give up acting and pursue writing full-time.
4. WHEN WILL LEGENDS PREMIERE?
Filming has not yet begun, so it likely won’t debut until 2027 at the earliest. Hunnam is currently in production on Legacy of Spies, the upcoming BBC series adaptation of John le Carré’s novel. The British actor will next be seen in Netflix’s The Lizzie Borden Story, the fourth installment of the Monster franchise; he recently received an Emmy nomination for Season 3, The Ed Gein Story.
5. WHAT ARE ITS AWARDS PROSPECTS?
Sons of Anarchy was hit-or-miss with awards shows — mostly miss. The biker drama only received five below-the-line nominations at the Emmy Awards, losing them all. Its biggest claim to fame was a Best Drama Actress win for Katey Sagal at the 2011 Golden Globes. Legends will likely be entered in the Best Limited Series categories at the 2027 Emmys, where the competition is yet to be determined since it’s still a year away. Stay tuned.
