FX is officially returning to the gritty streets of South Central Los Angeles, with the network ordering a pilot for the highly anticipated Snowfall spinoff, Variety reports exclusively.
The new series brings back fan-favorite characters Wanda Bell-Simmons (Gail Bean) and Leon Simmons (Isaiah John), both pivotal figures in the original series. Set in the early 1990s, shortly after Snowfall’s conclusion, the spinoff explores a new era of transformation in LA. This time, the spotlight shifts from the drug game to the music industry, as Wanda—a recovering addict—navigates post-crack epidemic life with dreams of taking West Coast rap mainstream, all while gang violence threatens to derail her redemption arc.
Malcolm Spellman (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) will pen the pilot and serve as executive producer. He’ll be joined by Snowfall veterans Dave Andron, Thomas Schlamme, Julie DeJoie, Michael London, and Trevor Engelson, promising continuity in tone and storytelling. FX Productions will produce the pilot.
First teased in development back in 2023 before the Snowfall finale, the spinoff now seems primed to pick up where the original left off—but with a fresh cultural lens. Instead of focusing on the drug empire of Franklin Saint, the upcoming story aims to showcase the rise of hip-hop in LA and the challenges of breaking through amid ongoing turf wars and fractured communities.
Originally created by the late John Singleton alongside Eric Amadio and Dave Andron, Snowfall debuted in 2017 and ran for six seasons, becoming a defining drama for FX and solidifying its place in television history. The series followed multiple narratives impacted by the crack epidemic, including the journeys of Franklin Saint (Damson Idris), CIA operative Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson), and enforcer Gustavo “El Oso” Zapata (Sergio Peris-Mencheta).
While much about the new show is still under wraps—including its title and additional cast—fans can expect a raw, emotionally charged continuation that honors the legacy of Snowfall while carving out a distinct identity rooted in 90s West Coast culture.
For viewers who watched Wanda’s transformation from crack addict to a woman seeking purpose and Leon’s evolution from gangbanger to conscious leader, this pilot could offer the emotional closure—and new beginnings—they’ve been waiting for.