Sons Of Anarchy Is Officially Switching Genres After 3 Years

Sons of Anarchy primarily falls in the crime drama genre with traces of action and thriller elements. Even its first spinoff series, Mayans M.C., did not drift too far from its parent series in this regard. However, the Sons of Anarchy franchise is now all set to return with a whole new installment, which will completely shift its entire genre.

Many modern shows present themselves as a mishmash of genres instead of strictly following the rules and conventions of one. Even Sons of Anarchy had moments where it came off as a family drama before it turned into a brutal thriller and crime drama. So far, though, the franchise has not experienced any significant shifts in its core genre and storytelling identity.

While it seemed like the franchise had ended its run for good after Mayans M.C., it is now returning with a spinoff titled Legends. As reports confirm, Legends marks the return of many original cast members from the Sons of Anarchy, including Charlie Hunnam. The spinoff will reportedly embrace a whole new identity instead of walking in the footsteps of its predecessors, which seems both risky and fascinating.

The upcoming Sons of Anarchy spin-off, Legends, follows a strange meta premise. In the show, Sons of Anarchy's primary cast members, including Charlie Hunnam, will play themselves instead of their original characters. The story will begin with them reuniting for a fan convention ten years after the show. However, what will start as a reunion will soon turn into a dangerous thriller.

A real-world threat will suddenly emerge, forcing the fictional versions of Sons of Anarchy's cast to confront rivalries, betrayals, and violence that once defined their characters.

Kurt Sutter's Sons of Anarchy took itself quite seriously throughout its runtime. Owing to this, the self-parodying meta-narrative of the spinoff seems like a complete departure from the franchise's established tone and genre. By establishing that its own universe was nothing but fictional in all previous installments, the spinoff also risks undermining the weight of the original series' storytelling.

Even Charlie Hunnam's return to the franchise is a little strange. As incredible as he was as Jax Teller, the character died in Sons of Anarchy's ending moments. Owing to this, having him back as a fictional version of himself feels like a bizarre way to feature Jax Teller again without rewriting his definitive ending.

At the same time, though, it also seems unfair to completely dismiss the upcoming spinoff. Charlie Hunnam himself serves as its creator, co-writer, and executive producer. Even FX seems incredibly confident in the project, which spells a lot of promise and hope.

Sons Of Anarchy’s Strange New Creative Direction Is A Bold Move For The Franchise

Doing a traditional follow-up to Sons of Anarchy was impossible after the original show's season 7, given how many characters like Jax Teller, Clay Morrow, Gemma Teller, and Tara Knowles met their end. Some might even argue, though, that the franchise was better off being left alone after the original show's conclusive seven-season run.

The sharp pivot in the franchise's creative direction with the upcoming spin-off could cause more harm than good. But the meta-thriller approach could still work if it is executed well.

If Legends is portrayed more as a self-aware tribute to the original show's legacy, it could prove to be a worthy follow-up. The Sons of Anarchy spinoff will have to thrive on nostalgia and remind viewers why they fell in love with the original show's cast, character beats, and themes of brotherhood, loyalty, family, and redemption.

With Charlie Hunnam as the creative force behind the upcoming series, it is hard not to have at least a little faith in what it will bring to the table. Hopefully, the Sons of Anarchy franchise's new genre shift will not disappoint.