Recent developments in the Bosch: Legacy franchise have helped prove the importance of the show’s upcoming spinoff focusing on Renée Ballard. The Renée Ballard Bosch spinoff was ordered in late 2023 and is set to premiere in fall 2025. The new show will follow another L.A. detective, Renée Ballard, who specializes in unsolved cases. The original series, Bosch, which aired from 2014-2021, followed Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) during his job as an LAPD detective. The follow-up series the following year, Bosch: Legacy, sees Bosch retired and working on private investigations.
Together, the shows have produced ten seasons of content inspired by the books of Michael Connelly. Ballard is also a creation of Connelly’s, with some crossover between her and Bosch. The spinoff is now in production, with the Renée Ballard project introducing new characters and acclaimed actors to the franchise. Bosch: Legacy‘s third season is set to premiere in March 2025 and was recently announced as the show’s final season, adding significance to the upcoming release of the Ballard spinoff.
The Renée Ballard Spinoff Will Carry The Bosch Franchise After Legacy Ends With Season 3
Renee Ballad Is Another LAPD Officer
Starring Maggie Q as the titular character, the spinoff will focus on Renée Ballard, the head of the LAPD’s underfunded, all-volunteer cold case unit. Based on Connelly’s works, the untitled spinoff will continue the tone and plots of the Bosch franchise. It will still have the same crime procedural and grim tones of the original series. Notably, Renée Ballard isn’t a regular Bosch character but is added in Bosch: Legacy season 3, where she aids the detective with her LAPD expertise.
The new spinoff will premiere on Prime Video and Amazon Freevee.
Ballard approaches the cases with empathetic determination, making her a compelling heroine who will permit the series to take some turns and explore new subjects. During her seemingly impossible job, she is sure to lean on some of Bosch: Legacy‘s most compelling characters for advice. Connelly has written six books that revolve around Ballard, the first being 2017’s The Late Show. Her storyline and series are still ongoing. The prolific author will likely continue expanding Ballard’s stories to make more adaptable content.
| Ballard’s Book by Connelly | Year |
|---|---|
| The Late Show | 2017 |
| Dark Sacred Night | 2018 |
| The Night Fire | 2019 |
| The Dark Hours | 2021 |
| Desert Star | 2022 |
| The Waiting | 2024 |
The spinoff will be tasked with honoring what made the original series so beloved while still subverting expectations. The shift from Welliver’s hard-cut and tenacious detective to Q’s more empathetic and resolved Ballard is already a promising addition to the Bosch universe. Ballard’s approach to crime-solving is sure to create compelling and fresh narratives. The spinoff is the first installment in the television franchise to not revolve around Welliver as Bosch.
Why Is Bosch: Legacy Ending With Season 3?
The Franchise Will Now Focus On Ballard’s Story
Though no official reason for the cancelation was announced, it is likely to help focus attention on the new spinoff. Much of Connelly’s recent books have focused on Ballard, providing several books of source material for the latest show. Perhaps Connelly and the rest of the Bosch team felt it was time to let Bosch rest and focus on developing a new and hopefully equally beloved character.
Notably, the end of the series was announced before the final season aired, warning the audience that the upcoming season would be the last. This timing decision was likely to ensure the new show would have traction before officially ending the original series. Bosch and Bosch: Legacy is Amazon’s longest-running scripted series to date.
Renée Ballard’s Spinoff Can Still Bring Back Harry Bosch
Bosch Will Appear In Season One Of The Spinoff
In an Instagram post about the end of Bosch: Legacy, Connelly wrote excitedly about the new spinoff. He even teases, “And if you know anything about my books, then you know you have not seen the last of Harry Bosch!” While Ballard will appear in the final season of Bosch: Legacy, Welliver is already set to reprise his role of Bosch in several episodes of the spinoff’s first season. While the extent of Bosch’s role is still unclear, he could potentially become a series regular.
With close to 40 books, Connelly has produced plenty of content upon which to base a show.
Connelly also expressed his gratitude, saying that he is excited that the actors and creative team “have more engaging stories to tell in the Bosch world with the final season of Bosch: Legacy, our new Ballard series and more to come.” Not only does Connelly promise that familiar characters will return with some new plot lines, but there might even be other new materials and series to spinoff. With close to 40 books, Connelly has produced plenty of content upon which to base a show. With the cancellation of the beloved Bosch: Legacy, expectations are high for Connelly’s latest project.
Source: Instagram