‘Sons of Anarchy’ antihero Jax Teller will ride again; Comic book prequel ‘Redwood Original’ to focus on 18-year-old Teller
Charlie Hunnam’s character from the FX series “Sons of Anarchy,” Jax Teller, may or may not be a part of the spin-off. However, he will ride again in Boom! Studios new comic book prequel, “Redwood Original.” The anti-hero of the FX biker drama by creator Kurt Sutter will return in the comic book prequel to the television series.
“Redwood Original,” written by Ollie Masters with inputs from Sutter himself, follows an 18-year-old Jax as he tries to come to terms with his father’s death and his legacy. He also tries to accustom himself with the "Sons of Anarchy" Motorcycle Club as a whoile Jax is not the only one appearing in the comic book. His best friend Opie, stepfather Clay and mum Jemma will also make appearances along with other TV characters.
“It's Jax prospecting to become a full club member. This is a story about him proving himself — to the club, to their enemies and allies and to himself. In [the TV series], the shadow of his father looms large over him and it does in our series as well, but for us it's recent history, so it's more of an open wound than a scar being pulled open. He's still dealing with J.T's death and what it means to exist in a masculine-heavy world without a father to guide him,” Masters told The Hollywood Reporter.
Masters formed the characters after considering the first season. He thought about the situation of the characters in Season 1 and how they got there. The story is set about a decade before the original show. Masters pointed out the challenge he faced writing the story as he had to hold on to the core of the characters and not tread the same path shown in the TV series.
Masters revealed that a lot of help came from series artist Luca Pizzari and show creator Kurt Sutter. He cracked the idea of the comic book story after Pizzari sent him the character designs. Sutter was sent everything so that he could add his input.
“Everything gets sent to him to check over to make sure it works with how he sees the characters and to see if he has any input. I'm not gonna lie, it's been pretty surreal and intimidating knowing that such a great writer as Kurt has been looking over my ideas for the series. It feels like I had a lot to live up to,” Masters added.
This comic book series would be Boom! Studios’ second “Sons of Anarchy” offering to the series’ huge fan base. The first one ran 25 issues. “Redwood Original” comes at a time when “Sons of Anarchy” spin-off, “Mayans MC,” is officially in script development mode at FX and may air sooner than expected.
Sutter has roped in Latino filmmaker Elgin James to help launch the new series. FX and Sutter are looking to recapture the massive audience that “Sons of Anarchy” had. Thus, the spin-off is not a rumour any longer but a reality.
Sutter and James will be focusing exclusive on the Mayans, the Latino motorcycle club that had a “sometime rival, sometime ally” relationship with Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original (SAMCRO) and Jax Teller Hunnam). With James as co-creator of the spin-off, he is writing a plot that will be “dark, visceral family drama that takes a new look at the most American of icons, the 1 percent outlaw, this time reflected through a Latino lens.”
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