The critically acclaimed FX series Snowfall concluded its six-season run in 2023. Now, a spinoff featuring two familiar faces—Gail Bean’s Wanda and Isaiah John’s Leon —is moving forward, with FX officially ordering a pilot.

A New Chapter For Wanda and Leon

Snowfall, co-created by the late John Singleton, Eric Amadio, and Dave Andron, explored the origins of the crack cocaine epidemic in South Central Los Angeles in the 80s and 90s. The series, led by Damson Idris as Franklin Saint, gained a dedicated following over its six seasons. After the finale aired in April 2023, speculation about a potential spinoff began, and in March 2023, Deadline reported that a project centered on Gail Bean’s character, Wanda, was in early development.

Fast forward to March 2025, and FX has greenlit a pilot for the untitled Snowfall spinoff, bringing back Gail Bean as Wanda Bell-Simmons and Isaiah John as Leon Simmons.

Who’s Returning To The ‘Snowfall’ Spinoff?

The spinoff will center on Wanda and Leon, who were integral to the narrative in the original series. Wanda, initially introduced as Leon’s girlfriend, struggled with addiction before emerging as a survivor by the series’ end. Leon, Franklin Saint’s best friend and second-in-command, transitioned from a life of crime to one of purpose, eventually moving to Ghana with Wanda in the final season.

Both actors have confirmed their return for the spinoff, while no other cast members from the original series have been announced.

‘Snowfall’ Spinoff Plot Details: A Shift to the Gangster Rap Era

The spinoff picks up in 1990s Los Angeles, shortly after the events of Snowfall’s finale. According to the official logline, the story follows Wanda, a recovering addict, as she strives to take West Coast rap mainstream amid a brewing gang war. This premise shifts the focus from the drug trade that defined the series to the rise of the “gangster rap” business.

The original series highlighted the impact of crack cocaine on the community, often tying in real-world influences like the Bloods and Crips gangs. The spinoff builds on this foundation while exploring how the region transitioned into a new phase marked by music and ongoing conflict. Wanda’s pursuit of a music career, briefly mentioned in the Snowfall finale, serves as a narrative bridge, while Leon’s presence suggests his continued role as her partner and support system.

Production Updates: Pilot Ordered, Filming Set for Summer 2025

Production is slated to begin in the summer of 2025. The project remains with FX Productions. Executive producers include Snowfall alums Dave Andron, Thomas Schlamme, Julie DeJoie, Michael London, and Trevor Engelson.

While the pilot order is a promising milestone, the spinoff’s future hinges on its performance. If successful, FX could greenlight a full series, potentially bringing Wanda and Leon’s story to screens in 2026 or beyond. No official release date or title has been confirmed yet.

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first teaser for One Battle After Another, the latest cinematic venture from acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Sean Penn.

Set for release on September 26, 2025, in theaters and IMAX, the teaser sets the stage for a contemporary tale rumored to draw inspiration from Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland. The short teaser arrives before a full trailer next week.

The clip, clocking in at just under a minute, wastes no time plunging viewers into Anderson’s world. DiCaprio, sporting a rugged look complete with unkempt hair and a weathered jacket, appears as a man on the edge—intense and unpredictable. A fleeting shot shows him sprinting through a dimly lit street, hinting at the high-stakes action to come. Taylor, in her most prominent film role yet, matches DiCaprio’s energy with a steely gaze and a commanding presence, suggesting a character as fierce as she is complex. Though the plot remains a mystery, the teaser’s rapid cuts of car chases, tense confrontations, and moody California landscapes signal a departure from Anderson’s typically introspective style toward something more visceral.

The film is scheduled to be released on August 8 by Warner Bros. Pictures. Watch the teaser below:

Zendaya has solidified her status as a trailblazer by becoming the highest-paid Black actress in TV, earning $1 million per episode for the upcoming third season of HBO’s Euphoria. The 28-year-old Emmy winner renegotiated her contract with the network, surpassing previous records and setting a new benchmark for Black actresses in the industry.

Zendaya, who started on the Disney channel, landed her role as Rue Bennett on Euphoria in 2019. Her raw, captivating performance in the gritty drama that explores addiction, identity, and youth culture has earned her two Emmy Awards, making her the youngest woman to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2020 and again in 2022.

This $1 million-per-episode salary places Zendaya ahead of previous high-earning Black TV actresses like Kerry Washington, who reportedly earned $1.1 million per episode for Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere (though this included her role as executive producer), and Angela Bassett, who made history in 2021 with $450,000 per episode for Fox’s 9-1-1. Zendaya’s deal reportedly reflects her pay for acting alone, with additional earnings likely from her producing role on Euphoria. The California native’s net worth, estimated at $20 million to $30 million, continues to climb, fueled by her TV success, film roles in blockbusters like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Dune, and many lucrative fashion endorsements.

When compared to the highest-paid female actresses overall, Zendaya’s achievement stands out, though it also reveals the broader pay landscape in Hollywood. In 2024, Forbes crowned Nicole Kidman the world’s highest-paid actress, raking in $31 million net ($41 million gross) annually, largely from TV miniseries like The Perfect Couple and Lioness, where she earned $1 million per episode across multiple projects. Sofia Vergara, topping Forbes’ 2020 list with $43 million, earned $500,000 per episode for Modern Family and at least $10 million per season as a judge on America’s Got Talent. Ellen Pompeo peaked at $575,000 per episode for Grey’s Anatomy, totaling over $20 million annually with producing credits.