‘Snowfall’ Spinoff In The Works, Actress Gail Bean Will Reprise Her Role As Wanda

Snowfall actress Gail Bean may star in the show’s spinoff, reprising her character, Wanda, Deadline reported.

While Snowfall is in its sixth and final season, sources told the outlet that a spinoff is in the works. And while nothing is official, Wanda ostensibly is the sole Snowfall reprised character that serves as a link between the original show and the pending series. Prospective main characters besides Bean’s are unknown but will eventually be revealed.

The possibility of other original characters appearing in the new version is also unknown.

Like Snowfall, the spinoff will take place in South Central Los Angeles in the 1990s, but instead of a crack epidemic in the area, the untitled spinoff will maneuver away from crack and more toward gangster rap.

Serving as the pilot’s writer and executive producer is Malcolm Spellman, known for his work in Empire. Snowfall‘s Dan Andron (Snowfall‘s co-creator), Trevor Engelson, Michael London, Tommy Schlamme and Julie DeJoie will return to serve as executive producers.

The impending show will posthumously credit the late and great John Singelton, the show’s co-creator.

The original show occurred in 1980s South Central Los Angeles, where crack dominated the city. Snowfall starred Damson Idris, who played young dope pusher Franklin Saint. Franklin hustled on the street alongside his best friend Leon (Isaiah John), who had Wanda as a girlfriend. Amid the city’s crack infestation, Wanda eventually got addicted to the drug, causing her to end up homeless. Ultimately, Wanda would choose to turn her life around and attempt to get clean. 

In the sixth season (episode three), Leon and Wanda had a beautiful wedding in Ghana. 

In an interview for FX Inside Look into the sixth season, director and actor Amin Joseph (who portrayed Jerome Saint) explained women’s important role on the show.

“When we think of crackhead and crack baby, and things that may be synonymous with the storytelling of a crack drama, it’s often through the lens of a woman that you see the harshest realities,” Joseph said. “They are the heart, they are the soul of our communities, society, no always getting their just due. The women of Snowfall are strong and a lot of the decisions that they make will determine the fate of the characters.”

He concluded, “To be quite honest, all of the decisions that they make are some of the more gripping, pivotal decisions of this series.”

Snowfall airs on FX on Wednesdays and hits Hulu on Thursdays.