Damson Idris And The Question Of Franklin Saint’s Future In ‘The Drop: A Snowfall Saga’

‘The Drop: A Snowfall Saga’ has officially launched the next chapter of the ‘Snowfall’ universe, and viewers are still trying to figure out where Franklin Saint fits into it. The character who anchored six seasons of FX’s acclaimed crime drama left the story a broken man, and viewers cannot stop asking whether Damson Idris will step back into the role now that ‘The Drop’ is airing.

The spinoff has shifted its focus elsewhere, but Franklin’s shadow has followed the show anyway. The Snowfall spin-off series, titled The Drop, A Snowfall Saga, is set in Los Angeles and centers on fan favorites Wanda and Leon as they navigate the dangerous world of the city in the 1990s, trying to push West Coast rap music into the mainstream. That premise alone raises the obvious question of whether Franklin, the man who once ruled that same city through the crack trade, has any place left in it.

Franklin Saint’s Fate At The End Of ‘Snowfall’

To understand why Franklin’s status in ‘The Drop’ matters so much, it helps to revisit exactly how ‘Snowfall’ left him. The original series followed the lives of an African American crime family led by budding drug dealer Franklin Saint, played by Damson Idris, as they navigated ways to make money selling crack cocaine during the 1980s crack epidemic in South Central Los Angeles. By the finale, that empire had completely collapsed.

By the end of the series, Franklin’s CIA handler Teddy McDonald stole seventy three million dollars from him, wiping out his fortune and legitimate real estate holdings. Franklin managed to track Teddy down and was seconds away from recovering half the money when his mother Cissy shot and killed Teddy, ending her son’s obsession once and for all. Franklin ultimately lost his fortune entirely and ended up living on the streets, echoing the fate of his own deadbeat father.

His personal life fared no better. His girlfriend, Veronique, walked away while pregnant with his child, later calling once to tell him he had a son she would raise far away from him. That gutting image of a broke, broken man wandering South Central has stayed with fans since the finale aired in 2023. It is an ending grim enough that many assumed Franklin’s story was simply finished.

Wanda And Leon Take Center Stage In ‘The Drop’

Rather than picking that story back up, FX chose to build its next chapter around two supporting players instead. The new series focuses on fan favorites Wanda and Leon as they navigate the dangerous world of Los Angeles in the 1990s, trying to push West Coast rap music into the mainstream. The spinoff explores Los Angeles’ shift from the crack epidemic to the West Coast Hip Hop scene, introducing new tensions and opportunities.

The project has been a long time coming. FX ordered the spinoff to series after it had been in development since 2023 and received a pilot order in 2025. The late John Singleton co-created ‘Snowfall,’ helping build a Los Angeles crime saga that lasted six seasons, and his creation now continues under new leadership, with Malcolm Spellman executive producing alongside Snowfall veteran Dave Andron.

‘The Drop’ arrived with a clear premiere plan and a returning creative circle. ‘The Drop’ debuted September 8 on FX with returning characters and fresh faces driving the narrative forward, with new episodes airing every Tuesday. International viewers are able to watch the series on Disney+, following the tragic ending of the original ‘Snowfall’ series.

Gail Bean’s character sets an early tone for the show’s emotional stakes. In the trailer, Wanda Bell says, “You gotta understand what I’ve been through. When I was getting clean, music brought me back to life,” as she and Leon fight to reinvent themselves while the crack epidemic gives way to the rise of West Coast rap. That framing places ‘The Drop’ in the same city as ‘Snowfall’ without automatically pulling Franklin back into the frame.

What The Cast Has Said About Franklin’s Return

Fans have not stopped asking the cast directly, and the answers so far have been carefully vague. Asked whether Franklin Saint will be referenced in the spinoff, Gail Bean answered coyly, saying fans will have to see because she cannot give any spoilers. That kind of non answer has only fueled more speculation rather than settling it.

Damson Idris himself has added to the mystery. At a recent Essence Fest appearance in New Orleans, Idris joined his former co-stars on a panel and received loud cheers when he walked out, and when asked whether he would appear in the show, he answered that they would have to wait and see. At the time of writing, Damson Idris is not listed as part of the confirmed cast for ‘The Drop, A Snowfall Saga.’

Isaiah John’s comments suggest Franklin’s absence is being treated as unresolved trauma rather than a clean break. Asked if Leon ever made peace with Franklin’s fate, John said no, explaining that he does not think Leon has made peace with it because he is still confused by it all, adding that Leon understands how everything fell apart but that Franklin was his brother and he does not think he has come to terms with that fully. That kind of lingering grief keeps Franklin present even in his physical absence.

How ‘The Drop’ Already Nods To Franklin Saint

Even without an on screen appearance, the show has made clear it has not forgotten where its world came from. Two episodes in, the show had not featured Franklin physically, yet it still invoked him, with the series premiere, titled ‘Click Pop,’ featuring a direct Franklin name drop in a moment between Wanda and Leon. Lead actor Isaiah John also confirmed there are deep nods to the character, and the show features a moment in which Leon looks through old photos.

Writers at outlets covering the franchise have noted that his legacy still colors the new series even without his physical presence. Franklin Saint’s story may be over, but the world that created him clearly isn’t. That distinction, between a character’s arc ending and a franchise’s world continuing, seems to be exactly what ‘The Drop’ is banking on.

Whether that approach satisfies longtime ‘Snowfall’ viewers is still an open question. Fans will be watching closely to see whether ‘The Drop’ can maintain the grit, tension, and layered storytelling that made ‘Snowfall’ hit so hard. For now, Franklin Saint remains a name whispered through ‘The Drop’ rather than a face on screen, and given how deliberately the show keeps circling back to him, it is worth asking readers directly whether they think a Franklin Saint cameo would strengthen this new chapter or whether ‘The Drop’ is better off letting Wanda and Leon carry his shadow on their own.