Having failed to take over the streets of London once, Shaquille O’Neal now has bigger plans with the city. The upcoming installment of Gangs of London with a host of new cast joining the five regulars, is making quite the noise. And always looking for the side quests, expect Shaq to join in on the chatter. 

Although there has been no official announcement or involvement of his name in the series’ cast, the former LA Lakers star took to Instagram and posted a video saying, “Hey London, this is Shaq. In season 3 of Gangs of London, I’m taking over.” Involved or not, the announcement couldn’t have come at a better time.

The teaser for season three, released in late November, has already sent anticipation soaring. And Shaquille O’Neal’s popularity adds to the free publicity among the fans who were unaware of the show. The cast of the show also seems to be happy about it. “Bruh… can you at least be on my team,” the series star Sope Dirisu commented on Shaq’s IG post.

Produced by Pulse Films with Sky Studios and AMC+, this BAFTA-winning series dives deep into the gritty underworld of London, weaving a tale of chaos and power struggles. If you’re wondering about the scale of this production, it’s backed by AMC Networks, a media giant valued at a whopping $410 million.

For fans of the show, the return of familiar faces like Sope Dirisu, Michelle Fairley, and Joe Cole is reason enough to celebrate. Add to that newcomers like Andrew Koji and Richard Dormer, and you’ve got a powerhouse ensemble ready to deliver more of the high-octane drama that had everyone hooked in the first two seasons.

Season three promises even more chaos, with a deadly shipment triggering power shifts, unexpected alliances, and brutal rivalries. Can you imagine the tension? And let’s not forget, this isn’t just any series—its debut pulled in 2.23 million viewers on Sky Atlantic, making it the network’s second-biggest original drama launch ever. No wonder that Shaq is excited for the third installment of the series.

The time when Shaquille O’Neal attempted taking over the streets of London

Back in August, Big Diesel gave Londoners a taste of his larger-than-life personality during a trip that had fans buzzing. The city was alive with excitement as Team USA played pre-Olympics exhibition games, and Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre threw their Gin & Juice party in West London.

Naturally, Shaq made an appearance, rocking Bugs Bunny-printed trousers, a black tee, and loafers with his iconic backboard-breaking silhouette. Oh, and let’s not forget his signature DIESEL chain—because subtlety has never been the 4x NBA champ’s style. But here’s where things get hilariously Shaq-like.

Fresh from the party, he took to TikTok with the same, jokingly narrating, “In London. Let’s see if they recognize me. Time to put on my disguise.” His master plan? A pair of blackout sunglasses. Yes, sunglasses—while still wearing a massive Shaq Diesel chain. Surprisingly, he managed to stay undercover for a solid 45 seconds. Yep, he was recognized by first the passerby itself.

Now, it’s to be seen how successful Shaquille O’Neal stays in his attempt of “taking over” Gangs of London. Especially when Sope Dirisu from the show already wants the former NBA star on his side.