Before there was Money Heist (aka La Casa de Papel), there was TNT’s Leverage that aired for five seasons between 2008 and 2012.
With a central theme of vigilantism and revenge against the upper echelons of society, Leverage followed the thieving adventures of a five-man team as they executed elaborate cons to steal from the rich and powerful who have committed injustices against the ordinary people. Kind of like Money Heist, right?
Well, unlike the Spanish international hit that features one con over multiple seasons, Leverage episodes each had its own story structure in which there was a new villain, so to speak, to take down each time.
The show was titled after the company the main characters operated under, “Leverage Consulting & Associates” – a company of just five employees: Nate the mastermind, Sophie the grifter, Alec the hacker, Parker the thief, and Eliot the “retrieval specialist”.
The show garnered positive reception and reviews, and even spawned a South Korean adaptation (albeit just for one season), tie-in novels, and an award-winning roleplaying game! Sadly, the TV ratings just didn’t reflect this popularity as the series went on and it was canceled after just five seasons.
Announcing the Leverage reboot!
At the start of 2019, the Amazon-owned online database IMDb launched its own streaming service for the United States. Originally named Freedive, it was later rebranded as IMDb TV and then as Freevee and currently has licensing deals with Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM, and most recently, Disney!
On top of that, the streaming service has finally decided to dip its toes into creating and producing originals, starting with our very own Leverage!
In April 2020, IMDb announced the return of the hit crime drama in the form of a reimagining – with both old characters and some new ones thrown into the mix. The decision to reboot the series came after the original franchise racked up the views on the Freevee platform when it launched in July 2019.
Riding on this popularity, the platform and the show’s creators are hoping to keep the momentum going with the revival, especially as the platform’s very first original production.
Where to watch Leverage:
What’s the reboot about?
As we mentioned previously, the Leverage reboot – composed of an initial 16 episodes – will be both a reimagining and a continuation of the 2008 parent series.
The Verge reports this little tidbit from Dean Devlin, an executive producer for the show: “Our new series with Amazon Studios and Freevee is a re-imagining of the original premise. While Leverage centered on a crusade to avenge the death of a child, this series is propelled forward as a redemption story of misdeeds that need amends.”
The idea of “amending misdeeds” sounds right along the line of the parent series’ premise, but it’s still unsure if this new show will serve as a sequel with references to previous storylines (like the marriage between Nate and Sophie, and the new leadership under Parker), or if it will go off on a completely new tangent. Considering the reappearance of old characters, however, it could be a little bit of both!
Who else is behind the reboot?
Dean Devlin, the executive producer, and director of the original series is back for the revival, at the helm and spearheading production from his company Electric Entertainment. Alongside him are John Rogers and Chris Downey, creators of the original, serving as consulting producers, and Marc Roskin, Rachel Olschan-Wilson, and Kate Rorick as additional executive producers. Rorick has previously worked with Devlin and Rogers on another well-known franchise: The Librarians.
It’s not just the creative minds behind the scenes that are returning, either. Many of our on-screen favorites from the original will be reprising their roles.
Read on to find out who’s coming back, and who the new face will be!
Who was in the original – and who’s coming back?
Gina Bellman (Henry IX, Jekyll) played Sophie Devereaux, a British grifter with a talent for linguistics and accents.
The team’s “hitter” aka. the martial artist, weapons expert, and retrieval specialist was Eliot Spencer, who was played by Christian Kane (The Librarians, Angel).
Aldis Hodge (City on a Hill, Straight Outta Compton) played Alec Hardison, the team’s hacker and computer specialist with a strong attachment to his electronic inventions.
Hardison was engaged in a romance with the team’s thief and expert safe-cracker Parker, who was portrayed by Beth Riesgraf (Complications, 68 Whiskey).
Though dealing with issues stemming from a troubled childhood, Parker was eventually able to prove her skills as a leader and was left in charge following the Mastermind Nate’s assumed departure from the team in the series finale.
Nate was played by Timothy Hutton (Almost Family, American Crime), and he’s the only member of the original team who’s not coming back for the reboot!
That’s right – Bellman, Kane, Hodge, and Riesgraf will all be reprising their original roles. However, Hodge will take a step back into a recurring role as his current show, City on a Hill, may be on the same filming schedule as Leverage.
Rounding out the new team will be Hardison’s little sister Breanna Casey, played by Aleyse Shannon (Charmed), who will be taking over the team’s resident hacker role from her big brother.
As well as Noah Wyle – also reuniting with Devlin and co. from The Librarians franchise!
Deadline reported a one-year deal for Wyle on the show. Wyle will be playing Harry Wilson, a corporate lawyer who’s looking for redemption after playing for the wrong side for far too long.
When does Leverage: Redemption premiere?
It won’t be long now until Leverage fans will be able to see their favorite characters back in action.
Ahead of Amazon’s NewFronts presentation, Freevee decided to treat fans to not only the official premiere date for the Leverage, which is now officially called Leverage: Redemption, but also to the first teaser trailer (watch below).
Fans will be able to check out the first eight episodes of Leverage: Redemption on Friday, July 9.
With another eight episodes coming to Freevee on Friday, October 8th!
I can’t wait for Leverage 2!!! Loved the first version, and I am so excited to see how the reboot is going to work!
Me too, the original was so good so I really hope that Leverage 2 is as good if not better!