While the spinoff is a more common sight in the cinematic world, occasionally TV follow-ups get their day in the sun. As TV franchises continue to grow, so too does the spinoff series market. After Breaking Bad came Better Call Saul, while Fear the Walking Dead was spun from hit The Walking Dead.

FX is also getting into the spinoff game, with Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter co-developing Mayans MC with Elgin James. Mayans MC will focus on the Mayans Motorcycle Club, former rivals of SAMCRO. The series will focus on EZ Reyes, a prospective Mayan MC, as he grapples with his personal life and seeks revenge against a Mexican drug cartel.

Though we’ve yet to find out who will play Reyes, the show has already cast some exciting characters to its pilot. According to Deadline, John Ortiz will join the cast as Esai “Taino” Osorio, President of the San Padres Mayans MC charter. The Mexican-Puerto Rican character lives with his cousin, Marcus Alvarez, in Oakland. Alvarez is the founder and National President of Mayans MC, and both he and his cousin are described as “as smart as [they are] deadly.”

Ortiz joins fellow cast members Clayton Cardenas and Edward James Olmos, who will play EZ’s brother and father, respectively. Ortiz has enjoyed a prolific career on both the big and small screen, which includes such roles as Ramon Campos in Fast & Furious and Victor Nieves in Kong: Skull Island. Creators Sutter and James have expressed their eagerness to use the project as a way to broaden Latino representation on-screen.

Unlike other spinoffs now on the air, Mayans MC will build on the success of Sons of Anarchy rather than alongside it, as its predecessor series ended in 2014, after seven seasons. It will be fascinating to see if and how the new show can build on that legacy, as Sons of Anarchy remains FX’s highest-rated drama ever, even three years after its end. As far as spinoffs go, this is definitely an interesting one, and we already know Sutter is a skilled at developing well-rounded, compelling characters. Money’s on this one getting a full season order, even if it’s not able to win hearts and minds on the same level as SOA.

As networks make the fall pilot scramble, Mayans MC is definitely one to keep an eye on. Now we just have to see if any Sons of Anarchy cast members will make reappearances on the show.

Next: Sons of Anarchy Spinoff Casts Edward James Olmos

Screen Rant will keep you updated on Mayans MC as it develops.

Source: Deadline