Cameron Monaghan steps into the past for the first official look at Bosch: Start of Watch.
Monaghan is recognized for a variety of roles, whether it’s his run as Ian Gallagher on the drama Shameless, which lasted for 11 seasons, or his recurring turn as Jerome Valeska on the comic book adaptation Gotham. He’s also voiced Cal Kestis in the Star Wars franchise, in addition to playing Caius in the recent Tron: Ares film.
But the 32-year-old BAFTA nominee will soon kick off one of his biggest roles to date, taking over the character originally played by Titus Welliver for the upcoming prequel Bosch: Start of Watch. Monaghan shared the first official photo of the upcoming MGM+ series, writing in a caption: “BOSCH: Start of Watch Now filming. Coming soon. #Bosch #StartOfWatch”
In the photo, included above, Monagan is sitting in a chair with “Harry Bosch” written on the back. He’s facing a black-and-white police car, offering viewers some hints of what to expect when the show debuts. The actor, a notable redhead, is instead sporting dark brown hair to match his new character.
What To Know About Cameron Monagan’s Bosch Prequel
The prequel is based on the Harry Bosch character, created by author Michael Connelly and later portrayed by Welliver. In particular, the story is set in 1991 Los Angeles and puts the focus on a 26-year-old Harry Bosch during his earliest days as a rookie cop.
Through that setup, the prequel plans to examine a city that’s dealing with racial tension, gang violence, and a divided LAPD. As the unrest grows, Harry is drawn into a high-profile heist and a web of criminal corruption. It’s an experience that will test his loyalty to his job as a cop, in addition to shaping his future as a detective.
Bosch: Start of Watch is produced by Fabel Entertainment, with Bosch: Legacy co-developer/executive producer Tom Bernardo serving as co-creator and showrunner. Bosch: Legacy’s Brian Anthony executive produces alongside Bernardo, Connelly, Henrik Bastin, Jamie Boscardin, Martin, and Jasmine Russ.
The cast of Bosch: Start of Watch will feature Power alum Omari Hardwick as Eli Bridges, Bosch’s training officer, while Ariana Guerra (CSI: Vegas) plays Rosa, a rookie officer and potential love interest. JD Pardo of Mayans MC has the role of Cory, a professional thief and Harry’s adopted brother.
Azita Ghanizada, Kathleen Wilhoite, and Prison Break’s William Fichtner co-star in the MGM+ Original, with Seamus Dever, Kenneth Miller, Raphael Sbarge, Marco Rodriguez, Rafi Gavron, and Ryan McPartlin in supporting and recurring roles. The ’90’s drama is not based on any particular Harry Bosch book, with Connelly describing the prequel as new territory. It’s currently filming in LA, with no release date announced.
Titus Welliver Will Be Back As Bosch
Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) in his car looking out the window serious in Bosch
Welliver will reprise his role as Harry Bosch for season 2 of the Bosch spinoff Ballard, which is confirmed to debut on Prime Video later this year. He’ll also be leading the gritty gang drama The Westies, which will debut on MGM+ on July 12. So, in any case, it looks like this year will have plenty to offer for fans of crime shows and especially Welliver himself.
Bosch: Start of Watch carries its own significance for Monaghan, though. It’s his first time as the lead of a TV show since he began his acting journey in 2002. And considering the versatility he’s shown in other projects, it may well be worth the wait.
Cameron Monaghan
Harry Bosch
Omari Hardwick
Eli Bridges