‘Ballard’s Cast Tease Their Major Roles in New ‘Bosch’ Spin-Off [Exclusive]

With Ballard now streaming on Prime Video, the next chapter in Michael Connelly’s crime universe is officially underway. While Maggie Q’s Renée Ballard is front and center, she’s backed by a new ensemble cast — including veteran stars Amy Hill and John Carroll Lynch, who opened up to Collider’s Aidan Kelley on the red carpet about their roles in the spin-off and how their characters help shape this new era of the Bosch franchise.

For Amy Hill, the series marks her return to Prime Video following her role as Tūtū in Disney’s 2025 live-action Lilo & Stitch. In Ballard, Hill plays — wait for it — Tūtū, the grandmother to Maggie Q’s Ballard. There’s no Disney crossover here, folks, don’t worry.

“I feel like my character really brings the soft side of Maggie Q,” Hill told Collider on the red carpet. “No matter how badass you are, there’s a lot of emotions going on that she has to not let loose. So it’s a place for her to be able to let her guard down when she comes home to me, and I’m there to provide that.”

Hill’s character isn’t just a warm presence — she reflects the kind of stability and emotional grounding that’s rare in the gritty world of LAPD homicide detectives. “We all have our families, our friends, that provide that for all of us. And we have to remember that’s an important part of our environment,” she added.

Who Does John Carroll Lynch Play in ‘Ballard’?

John Carroll Lynch joins the series as Thomas Lafont, a seasoned detective in the LAPD’s Cold Case division and someone who’s been in Ballard’s life for a long time.

“Renée Ballard was his boot — he was her training officer as a detective,” Lynch explained. “He returns to the Cold Case unit to support her because of what’s happened.” While Season 1 only hints at his full backstory, Lynch teased that Season 2 may go deeper: “I think in the second season, you’ll discover that being in the murder place is really addictive.”

Lynch revealed that the real-life Cold Case division inspired his portrayal: “There’s nothing more surprising about this unit than the volunteer nature of the actual Cold Case division in the LAPD, and we present that as it actually happens.”

And when asked how he’d describe Lafont’s relationship to Ballard? “He loves her,” Lynch said simply. Season 1 of Ballard is now streaming on Prime Video.