Spragga Benz Reveals ‘Top Shottas’ TV Series Is In The Works With Ky-Mani Marley
Dancehall star Spragga Benz has revealed that a new television series, called Top Shottas, is in the works. The 2002 movie Shottas which starred Ky-Mani Marley and Spragga, remains a classic Jamaican gangster story after it attracted a cult following upon release.
Though he mentioned that the new project was not connected to the movie, the veteran artist told the Jamaica Observer that it will have some of the film’s original cast. The 2002 movie featured Spragga Benz as Wayne, Ky-Mani Marley as Biggs, Agent Sasco as Blacka, DJ Khaled as a henchman, Paul Campbell as Mad Max, the late Louie Rankin as Teddy Bruck Shut, Munair Zacca as Mr. Anderson, Wyclef Jean as Richie, and Flippa Mafia as John John.
Of the original crew, Paul Campbell and Munair Zacca are also said to be returning for the series. Campbell is considered one of Jamaica’s most prolific actors and his memorable features include Dancehall Queen in 1997 and Third World Cop in 1999.
Spragga said that there is a script for Shottas 2 but it was now on the back burner as efforts were being focused on the upcoming series. “There is a script for Shottas 2 but for now, it is the television series which is on the front burner. People were requesting a follow-up for Shottas but the legal rights for the original movie is being contested in courts,” he said.
Filming for the series began in 2019 in Fort Lauderdale and it will be directed by Cess Silvera, who also did Shottas.
He also shared a little bit about what direction the show will head when it airs including his character’s name which is Tutus. “This time I will be seen getting ready to re-enter society after being held captive for a while,” he added.
Spragga, who released his eighth studio album called The Journey Chosen, in September 2020, also revealed that they had already filmed eight episodes in Miami. “Eight episodes have been completed and the project is being funded privately by Fada Screw,” he continued.
Ky-Mani Marley is the son of former Jamaican table tennis champion Anita Belnavis and Bob Marley and is best known for his songs like Rasta Love and Rule My Heart has a penchant for acting and has appeared in movies like One Love (2003), Haven (2004), Eenie Meenie Miney Moe (2013), and King of Dancehall (2016).
Earlier this year in January, Spragga confirmed that the second movie was in the making when he revealed that he received a fifty-seven-page script to read over for ‘Shottas 2’ from Richie Effs and Micheal Wekerle. In January, he and Marley set social media ablaze when they were photographed together on a set.