Guy Ritchie is attached to direct and executive produce The Donovans, a spin-off loosely based on the Showtime drama series Ray Donovan, which will be written by Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett.
What’s The Donovans about?
“With the most powerful clients in Europe, The Donovans will see family fortunes and reputations at risk, odd alliances unfold, and betrayal around every corner,” reads the official description. “While the family might be London’s most elite fixers today, the nature of their business means there is no guarantee what’s in store tomorrow.”
The Donovans does not have a premiere date, per Variety, but it will be available to Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers later this year.
The series hails from Paramount+, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, and 101 Studios, with Bennett, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, and Ivan Atkinson also executive producing.
“We’re elated to partner with Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios to reimagine the ‘Ray Donovan’ legacy together. Having Guy and Ronan sign on to join us on this incredible journey has been a true blessing,” shared David C. Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios. “We could not be more thrilled to take this huge hit and create a new and exciting show for audiences all over the world.”
“I’m thrilled to be working with Showtime, Paramount+ and 101 Studios,” added Bennett. “We’re going to deliver a show which provides massive thrills, entertainment and a huge rush of adrenaline for audiences around the world. At the same time, I’m totally focused on exploring real characters, in body and in soul, and I’m committed to writing stories with deep dramatic impact. We’re going to get under the skin of the criminal underworld, in a way which will show you the bone-deep truths of how they live and how it sometimes will — inevitably — impact on our own lives.”
The original Ray Donovan aired on Showtime for seven seasons, running from 2013 to 2020 and encompassing 82 episodes, with Liev Schreiber in the lead role. The cast also included Paula Malcomson, Eddie Marsan, Dash Mihok, Steven Bauer, Katherine Moennig, Pooch Hall, Kerris Dorsey, Devon Bagby, Jon Voight, and Susan Sarandon. Created by Ann Biderman, the franchise also expanded to feature Ray Donovan: The Movie and the Hindi-language remake, Rana Naidu.