In a seismic shift for crime drama devotees, MGM+ has greenlit Bosch: Start of Watch, a riveting prequel series plunging viewers into the raw, unpolished beginnings of detective Harry Bosch. After years of fervent fan campaigns for deeper dives into the character’s psyche, this fresh installment—starring Cameron Monaghan as a 26-year-old rookie Harry—transports us to the neon-drenched chaos of 1991 Los Angeles. Announced on October 15, 2025, the series promises the street-smart suspense and moral tightropes that catapulted Michael Connelly’s novels and the original Bosch series to legendary status. With production slated to kick off in L.A. next year, it’s already igniting buzz as the clarion call to binge in a landscape overrun by formulaic procedurals.
For the uninitiated—or those perpetually hooked—Harry Bosch, first immortalized by Titus Welliver in Prime Video’s Bosch (2014–2021) and its sequel Bosch: Legacy (2022–present), is the archetypal haunted cop: a Vietnam vet turned LAPD homicide detective, guided by an unshakeable code (“Everybody counts or nobody counts”). Connelly’s 25-novel series has sold over 80 million copies worldwide, spawning a multimedia empire including the recent Bosch: Legacy spin-off Ballard. But Start of Watch flips the script, rewinding to Harry’s rookie patrol days under the wing of veteran officer Eli Bridges, played by Omari Hardwick (Power, Army of the Dead). What begins as routine beats spirals into a high-profile heist entangled with criminal corruption, testing the fledgling cop’s loyalty to the badge amid the era’s riots, gang wars, and institutional rot.
Monaghan, fresh off his Critics’ Choice-nominated run as Ian Gallagher in Shameless and dual roles in Gotham, embodies a Bosch “Baby”—eager yet edged with the shadows of his traumatic past. “Cameron brings this raw intensity that’s perfect for a young Harry forging his moral compass in the fire of ’90s L.A.,” teases showrunner Tom Bernardo, who co-created the series with Brian Anthony and draws directly from Connelly’s lore. Hardwick’s Bridges serves as the grizzled mentor, a street-hardened foil whose cynicism clashes with Harry’s idealism, echoing the mentor-protégé dynamics that fueled the franchise’s emotional core. Executive producers Henrik Bastheim and Mads Frederiksen (Fabel Entertainment) helm the vision, with Connelly himself championing the project: “This is a gift to fans—seeing how Harry became the man we’ve loved for 10 seasons. I can’t wait to explore this uncharted territory.”
MGM+ head Michael Wright hailed it as a “compelling origin story” blending “gritty, authentic storytelling” with classic Hollywood flair for modern audiences. The series will stream across the U.S., UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Latin America, Belgium, and the Netherlands, marking the fourth Bosch-verse entry after Bosch, Legacy, and Ballard (renewed for Season 2). In a nod to the ’90s setting, expect era-specific grit: payphones buzzing with tips, cassette tapes of jazz riffs, and the undercurrent of the Rodney King riots threatening to erupt. High-stakes hits and ethical mazes abound as young Bosch navigates a web of dirty cops and power brokers, planting seeds for his future obsessions with justice and redemption.
The announcement has unleashed a torrent of excitement. Social feeds are flooded with #YoungBosch fan art, theories on Bridges’ fate, and debates over Monaghan’s casting—some purists pine for Welliver’s son Eamonn, but most applaud the fresh fire. “This prequel’s raw grit could redefine the legacy, breathing new life into a saga that’s outlasted trends,” raves Variety, while The Hollywood Reporter calls it “the origin we’ve craved.” Collider notes the deliberate pivot from Welliver, allowing the prequel to stand alone while honoring the mothership.
In a genre bloated with reboots, Bosch: Start of Watch stands as a beacon of bold evolution—proving that even legends have beginnings worth unearthing. Could this rookie romp eclipse its predecessors? One thing’s certain: it’s poised to hook a new generation while satisfying the old guard. Mark your calendars for 2026; the watch is just starting.
