How 'The Bikeriders' Will Scratch Your SOA Itch

Publish date: 2024-04-05

The new film The Bikeriders looks to be packed with the high-octane motorcycle club mythos that Sons of Anarchy fans gravitate to. Lovers of the now-classic Kurt Sutter show might even be able to fit the new Tom Hardy starring film into the same universe as SOA if they squint hard enough.

Sons of Anarchy hooked viewers for seven thrilling seasons with the epic tale of Jax Teller and his badass biker crew. Created by the prolific Kurt Sutter, this addictive show premiered on FX in 2008 and ended in 2014, leaving fans craving more. Set in Charming, California, it delves into the lives of the notorious motorcycle club, led by the formidable President Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman) and his young VP Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), the son of one of the club’s founding members.

Of course, the Sons of Anarchy franchise expanded through the spinoff series Mayans M.C., which shifted its focus to the titular club instead of SAMCRO. Additionally, Sutter hinted at a prequel series, although it ultimately did not come to fruition. While all things SOA seem to be wrapping up, The Bikeriders hits all the same notes that fans of the show love.

How ‘The Bikeriders’ Parallels ‘Sons of Anarchy’

Jeff Nichols directs The Bikeriders, a film based on Danny Lyon’s 1967 photo book. Set in 1960s Chicago, it explores the world of the Vandals, a motorcycle club. The Bikeriders tells the story of the club’s inception, led by Johnny (Tom Hardy), and its transformation over ten years. Initially a refuge for outsiders, the club becomes entangled in darker ventures that jeopardize their way of life. Austin Butler portrays Benny, a youthful club member who forms a deep connection with Johnny. Of course, fans of Sons of Anarchy will find parallels between Butler and Hardy’s characters and Clay and Jax.

The storyline for The Bikeriders is in the same vein as the rumored Sons of Anarchy prequel series. Supposedly, the show would have explored SAMCRO’s roots dating back to the 1960s.

According to Nerdcore Movement, back in 2014, Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter hinted at a prequel TV series during a live Q&A session. He shared his plan to develop a series centered around the founding members of the club, just before the final season of the original show premiered.

Known as the “First 9,” this series was originally planned to have 10 episodes or two eight-episode seasons. The storyline would have concluded with JT starting to write the manuscript that Jax discovers in Sons of Anarchy. However, conflicts between Sutter and Disney in 2019 made the prospects for “First 9” uncertain, as Disney owns Sons of Anarchy after acquiring Fox. The likelihood of “First 9” becoming a reality is now very low. Nevertheless, The Bikeriders can soothe the disappointment of what could have been.

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