As theBallardshow approaches its release date, author Michael Connelly has some insight into the differences between the shows. The 68-year-old writer created thebooks that inspiredBosch, which ran from 2014 to 2021, before the sequel showBosch: Legacywas brought to air from 2022 to 2025. Despite its strong reception, the show recently ended somewhat abruptly.
Though the Titus Welliver-led show has now concluded, Prime Video still plans to see more from the franchise. A sequel show, based on Connelly’sBallardbooks, is already in development after Maggie Q’s Detective Renée Ballard was introduced in the final season ofLegacy.Bosch will continue to appear in the new show, though Ballard will take the starring role.
While speaking withScreenRant’s Grant Hermanns, Connelly explained that there will be some significant differences between the shows. While theBoschfranchise andBallardareboth set in Los Angeles and focus on the LAPD, he intends to see “two different takes” on the setting. Check out his comments below:
Yeah, I mean, the goal wasn’t to necessarily separate from the original show, but I think it was to open it to appeal to more people. They have that phrase in Hollywood, “blue sky”, from the beginning. We said we wanted more blue sky, and we thought this was a perfect character and world to do it in because it’s in the books where she’s on the ocean. She finds solace in the ocean. By contrast, Harry Bosch finds solace by looking out at this dark city with lights and so forth. That alone is a shift towards brightness, so we were aware that we wanted to go to locations, and we also knew in the setup, where she has to put together this ragtag group of misfits, that there would be opportunity for humor, anecdotal humor and personality, which we didn’t have in the Bosch show. So, from the general makeup of what we were doing, we knew we could grow a show that was wider. I keep using that word wider, and what I mean by that is a wider appeal to viewers, and I think we captured that.
What This Means For The Bosch Franchise
Ballard Will Not Feel The Same
These changes are relatively small, compared to the differences between other procedurals, but they should represent a significant tonal change for the series. Instead of focusing on a small but recognizable landscape,Ballardwill be bringing audiences to all-new settings that could promote a welcome distinction between the series.It is a necessary divide, asBallardis a distinct spinoff.
Changing the setting alone is not the only change thatthe upcomingBoschspinoffwill be showcasingwhen it premieres on July 9. Maggie Q will be the leading actor, taking over from Welliver even if he continues to be involved in the series. Audiences need a reason to buy in, and the setting should help.
Prime Video needs to ensure that this show still feels like Bosch in some ways, even as it follows Ballard’s story.
Welliver has certainly been an extraordinary lead, as he managed to bring Harry Bosch to life while ushering in a loyal audience.Maggie Q has not had that opportunitywith this series yet, so her ample skills alone are not enough to draw viewers. Distinguishing elements are essential for proving to audiences that the franchise needed to change at all.
Our Take On Ballard And Bosch’s Differences
The Main Change Is The Star
The Prime Video executivesneed to walk a very fine lineto ensure that these two shows are not exactly the same.Bosch: Legacywas largely a continuation of the original show, which helped it to draw attention, even if Bosch no longer played the same role.Ballard, however, needs to draw the same viewers for a new star.
Undoubtedly, Prime Video plans to draw notice by featuring Titus Welliver in a significant role, but hecannot be the star. After all, it would be jarring for him to lead a series named after another character. Prime Video needs to ensure thatBallardstill feels likeBoschin some ways, even as it primarily follows her story.
Changing the setting slightly is one clever way to maintain that divide, even without necessarily clinging to a completely new environment. It offers each episode’s director the opportunity to dive into new locations that can offer a different feel to the series. Small changes may be exactly whatBallardwill need to both feel likeBoschand to distinguish itself.
