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The Cody Legacy: 5 Shocking New Updates On The Animal Kingdom TV Series Cast, Spin-Offs, And Controversial Ending In 2025

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The Cody family's reign may have ended on TNT, but the Animal Kingdom TV series is experiencing a massive resurgence in 2025, finding a whole new audience on streaming platforms like Netflix. This renewed popularity has reignited the fiercely debated questions surrounding the series finale, the fates of the surviving members, and the persistent rumors of a spin-off. As of late 2025, discussions about the controversial ending—which saw J's ultimate betrayal and the tragic downfall of the remaining brothers—are more intense than ever, especially with the main cast moving on to major new projects, including Emmy-winning roles and blockbuster films.

This deep dive provides the most current, up-to-date information on the legacy of the Oceanside criminal family, detailing the current careers of the stars, breaking down the shocking final moments of the series, and assessing the genuine possibility of a return to the Cody universe.

The Cody Family: Where The Animal Kingdom Cast Is Now (2025 Biographies)

The six-season run of Animal Kingdom established its core cast as some of the most compelling anti-heroes on television. Here is a complete, up-to-date look at the main actors' profiles and their current projects in 2025, proving the Cody brothers are still thriving in Hollywood.

  • Ellen Barkin (Janine "Smurf" Cody)
    • Born: April 16, 1954 (Age 71)
    • Role: The manipulative, ruthless matriarch of the Cody criminal family.
    • Current Status: Barkin starred in the Netflix action-comedy film The Out-Laws in 2023, and her performance as Smurf remains a central topic of discussion among new fans discovering the series in 2025.
  • Shawn Hatosy (Andrew "Pope" Cody)
    • Born: December 29, 1975 (Age 49)
    • Role: The oldest, most volatile, and deeply troubled brother, whose loyalty to Smurf and Julia defined the series.
    • Current Status: Hatosy is currently starring in the new series The Pitt (2025–present). He also achieved a major career milestone in 2025, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for his work and expanding his behind-the-scenes role by directing an episode for The Pitt Season 2.
  • Finn Cole (Joshua "J" Cody)
    • Born: November 9, 1995 (Age 30)
    • Role: The orphaned nephew who moves in with the Codys, eventually becoming the mastermind and ultimate betrayer of the family.
    • Current Status: Cole continues his successful transition to film. His highly anticipated upcoming projects include the boxing biopic In the Shadows (2025), where he plays Richard Moore, and the adventure-thriller Sirius, where he stars alongside Mads Mikkelsen.
  • Jake Weary (Deran Cody)
    • Born: February 14, 1990 (Age 35)
    • Role: The youngest, most reluctant brother, who struggles to balance his life as a criminal with his desire for a normal life running his bar.
    • Current Status: Weary is starring in the new Kevin Williamson-produced Netflix series The Waterfront (2025), where he plays the character Cane Buckley, demonstrating his continued success on the streaming platform.
  • Ben Robson (Craig Cody)
    • Born: February 4, 1983 (Age 42)
    • Role: The adrenaline-junkie, party-loving brother, whose arc focused on his relationship with his son, Nick.
    • Current Status: Robson has secured a new recurring role in Season 2 of the popular series Ransom Canyon, which is expected to air in 2025, proving his continued presence in high-profile television dramas.

The Controversial Series Finale: Who Survived The Cody Family's Last Stand?

The Animal Kingdom series finale, titled "All My Rowdy Friends," aired on August 28, 2022, and remains one of the most divisive endings in recent TV history. The controversy stems from the ultimate fate of the Cody brothers and the fulfillment of J’s long-term plan for revenge.

The entire final season built towards J's calculated scheme to take everything from the family that had betrayed his mother, Julia, and exploited him. The finale saw the Codys attempt a massive, high-stakes heist to break Pope out of jail, a plan that quickly spiraled into tragedy.

The Shocking Fates of Pope and Craig

The most shocking elements of the final episode involved the deaths of two of the core brothers:

  • Craig Cody's Death: In a heroic, yet tragic, turn, Craig was mortally wounded during the police shootout that ensued after the escape attempt. His final, heartbreaking moments were spent with his younger brother, Deran, who promised to raise Craig’s son, Nick. This sacrifice was a pivotal moment, completing Craig's journey from reckless junkie to devoted father.
  • Pope Cody's Death: Pope, the most tormented of the brothers, was shot and seemingly killed by police after the shootout. However, the true controversy lies in the nature of his death and J's role. J had previously set a trap for Pope, intending to kill him in a blaze of revenge for his mother's mistreatment by Smurf and the family. While Pope was fatally wounded, actor Shawn Hatosy has suggested that the ambiguous nature of the scene could leave room for a return, feeding into the fan debate over whether Pope truly died or if J's final act of betrayal was complete.

Ultimately, J (Joshua Cody) was the only one who truly "won." He successfully executed his plan, escaping with the family's fortune and leaving his uncles either dead or alone, finally achieving the revenge he had meticulously plotted since Smurf's death.

The Animal Kingdom Spin-Off: Why Fans Are Clamoring For A Season 7 or Deran/J Sequel

Despite the series ending over two years ago, the conversation about an Animal Kingdom spin-off or a hypothetical Season 7 has never died down, fueled largely by the show’s massive success on Netflix in 2025. The core of this fan desire revolves around two potential storylines that offer the most compelling continuation of the Cody legacy.

1. The Deran Cody Story: The Last Cody Standing

Deran Cody, played by Jake Weary, is the one brother who arguably had the most to lose and the best chance at a normal life. His survival, coupled with his promise to Craig to raise Nick, provides a perfect narrative hook for a sequel series. Fans are eager to see a spin-off focused on Deran struggling to leave the criminal life behind, raising his nephew, and potentially having to return to his old ways to protect him. This narrative would explore the enduring theme of the Cody curse and the difficulty of escaping the family's violent shadow.

2. The "J" Cody: The Mastermind's New Empire

The second major spin-off theory centers on J (Finn Cole), the nephew who became the ultimate anti-hero. Having escaped with the family's vast wealth, a sequel could follow J as he attempts to build a legitimate life or, more likely, establish a new, even more sophisticated criminal empire. This storyline would delve into the nature of power and whether J, despite his cold, calculated intelligence, is doomed to repeat the cycle of violence and betrayal that defined Smurf's reign.

While the show's executive producers have not officially announced a spin-off, they have acknowledged the immense fan interest, particularly in a potential Deran/J sequel. The cast members themselves, including Shawn Hatosy and Jake Weary, have openly discussed their willingness to reprise their roles, suggesting that the door to the Cody universe is not entirely closed. Given the show's current streaming popularity, a revival or sequel series on a platform like Netflix or HBO Max remains a distinct, albeit unconfirmed, possibility for the future.

Topical Authority and LSI Keywords

The world of Animal Kingdom is rich with detail, character, and location. Key entities and themes that define the series include the Cody family, the coastal setting of Oceanside, California, the original Australian film the series is based on, and the central crimes of heists, bank robberies, and drug trafficking. Character relationships like Pope and Julia, Smurf's manipulation, and J's betrayal are critical to the plot. The show's success is often compared to other prestige crime dramas, focusing on themes of toxic family dynamics, anti-heroes, and the consequences of a life of crime.

animal kingdom tv series
animal kingdom tv series

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