TV buffs are encouraged not to miss out on MobLand, an upcoming crime series developed by Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett and executive producer Guy Ritchie.

Featuring an all-star cast, led by Tom Hardy and featuring Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan, the series follows a powerful London crime family and the fixer who does their dirty work.

When Maeve (played by Mirren) and Conrad Harrigan (Brosnan) find themselves at war with a rival family, the Stevensons, they call in Harry Da Souza (Hardy) to protect their legacy.

Set to be released in just a few days on Paramount+, MobLand could be one of the best new crime dramas of the year.

However, despite seeming like a totally original project for the streaming service, it was actually originally developed as a spin-off from a hugely popular crime series.

Just over a year ago, in February 2024 it was announced that a prequel series based on the Showtime crime drama Ray Donovan was in development, titled The Donovans.

The spin-off would serve as an origin story for the title character, played by Liev Schreiber, and his family.

A rough synopsis released at the time, via Deadline, read: "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; and 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 follows two generations of gangsters, the businesses they run, the complex relationships they weave and the man they call upon to fix their problem."

Ritchie and Bennett were still behind this proposed spin-off but, by October 2024, it was revealed that it had been re-worked into its own standalone series.

The key reasons behind the change are not known, but presumably the creators decided the drama simply worked better as its own story with no connections to an established franchise.

Despite no longer continuing the iconic Ray Donovan, which concluded after seven seasons and a finale movie released in 2022, the talent both in front of and behind the camera for MobLand should be enough to convince any seasoned drama fans this is not a series to miss.

Snatch and The Gentlemen director Ritchie directed several episodes of the 10-part drama and it features a stellar cast beyond the three A-list leads.

In addition to Hardy, Mirren and Brosnan, MobLand also sees Paddy Considine returning to prestige drama following his acclaimed performance as Viserys I Targaryen in House of the Dragon. He'll be playing Kevin, the son of Brosnan's character Conrad.

Downton Abbey's Joanne Froggatt steps into a whole new role as Harry's wife, Jan Da Souza, and Spooks and Sherlock actress Lara Pulver actress will play Kevin's wife Bella.

Also listed in the cast are Pistol's Anson Boon, After Life's Mandeep Dhillon and Ozark star Janet McTeer.

MobLand premieres Sunday, 30th March on Paramount+.