News

MGM+’s upcoming drama series “The Westies” has rounded out its main cast with the addition of four series regulars.

Variety has learned exclusively that Allen Leech, Hamish Allan-Headly, Vincent Walsh, and Hilary McCormack have all been cast in the crime drama. They will appear alongside previously announced cast members J.K. Simmons, Tom Brittney, Titus Welliver, Jessica Frances Dukes, Stanley Morgan and Sarah Bolger. Production is currently underway.

The show is based on the true story of the titular New York City gang of the same name. The official description of the series states:

“The series is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall. Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share...

Titus Welliver's upcoming crime drama series The Westies has added two more great actors to its ensemble cast, including one of the key stars from the critically acclaimed biker gang drama Mayans M.C., a spinoff of Sons of Anarchy.

Per Variety, The Westies – which will stream exclusively on MGM+ – has cast Sarah Bolger of Mayans M.C. acclaim and Stanley Morgan. Bolger notably played Emily Thomas in all 50 episodes across five seasons of Mayans M.C.

Bolger and Morgan are the latest additions to the cast of The Westies, which is created by Chris Brancato and Michael Panes. They join Welliver of Bosch stardom, Ozark star Jessica Frances Dukes, and Oscar winner J.K. Simmons.

What The Westies' New Cast Members Mean For Welliver's Upcoming Show The Ensemble Cast Keeps Growing & Looks As Promising As Ever

Fans of Bosch who were disappointed that Bosch: Legacy ended on Amazon earlier this year...

Titus Welliver is stepping away from the streets of Los Angeles and into the blood-soaked back alleys of 1980s Hell’s Kitchen — and now he’s got company. The Westies, the upcoming MGM+ crime drama from Narcos creator Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, has officially added Sarah Bolger and Stanley Morgan as series regulars. They join a growing cast that includes Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons, Tom Brittney, and Jessica Frances Dukes, with Welliver at the center as morally compromised NYPD cop Glenn Keenan. Production is currently underway in Toronto.

Bolger will play Bridget Walsh, a “steely and calculating” Ira operative with a turbulent past, according to Variety. She’s also the girlfriend of Jimmy Roarke (Brittney), one of the gang’s younger firebrands trying to claim his piece of the criminal empire. Described as sharp, loyal, and unwavering in her mission to free Ireland from British rule, Bridget is a force...

“The Westies” has added two new series regulars to its cast with production now underway.

Variety has learned that Stanley Morgan and Sarah Bolger have both joined the MGM+ crime drama, which was ordered to series back in March. They join previously announced cast members J.K. Simmons, Tom Brittney, Titus Welliver, and Jessica Frances Dukes.

The show is based on the true story of the titular New York City gang of the same name. The official description of the series states:

“The series is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall. Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente. But internal conflict between the brash younger...

After playing an incorruptible detective for almost ten years, Titus Welliver is shifting gears in The Westies. Far removed from Harry Bosch, Welliver is instead a morally ambiguous cop in the upcoming TV series.

MGM's new crime thriller is gritty and violent like The Sopranos and Peaky Blinders, based on Titus Welliver's backgrounder for The Westies. Speaking with Collider, the actor said that he couldn't resist the show's premise and historical context. The prospect of acting opposite J.K. Simmons also helped. "[The series] takes place around 1981. J.K. plays the leader of the Irish gang in Hell's Kitchen in New York, The Westies, and I'm from the same neighborhood. We came up together, but I'm a police officer," Welliver explained.

The new role seemed well within Welliver's wheelhouse, but he said fans are in for a shock; his character Glenn Keenan isn't exactly an upstanding cop. "He's no Harry Bosch, but believe me,...

Titus Welliver is hanging up his LAPD badge — and picking up something a little more bloodstained. The Bosch and Bosch: Legacy star is heading back into crime drama territory with The Westies, a gritty new period series for MGM+ set in 1980s Hell’s Kitchen. Created by Narcos mastermind Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, the eight-episode drama has just commenced production in Toronto and will see Welliver go toe-to-toe with Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons in a clash of cops, criminals, and compromised morals. Collider spoke with Welliver ahead of filming — while he was promoting his latest project, Abraham's Boys — where he shared exclusive details about the role — and why this character couldn’t be more different from Harry Bosch.

“Yeah, it takes place around 1981. Jk plays the leader of the Irish gang in Hell's Kitchen in New York, The Westies, and I'm from the same neighborhood. We came up together, but I'm a police officer,...

Titus Welliver is headed from the streets of L.A. to the blood-soaked alleyways of 1980s New York — and this time, he’s got company from across the pond. Deadline is reporting this afternoon that Grantchester star Tom Brittney has joined the cast of The Westies, the upcoming MGM+ crime drama from Narcos co-creator Chris Brancato and Michael Panes. Brittney will co-lead the eight-episode series opposite Oscar winner J.K. Simmons, with production officially kicking off this July in Toronto.

Brittney will play James “Jimmy” Roarke, a fiercely loyal, streetwise up-and-comer in the Irish mob. As the head of The Westies’ younger generation, Jimmy is groomed for leadership by Simmons’ Eamon Sweeney, the gang’s old-school patriarch. But when the crew enters into a shaky alliance with the Gambino crime family, Roarke’s loyalty — to his mentor, his crew, and his own ambition — begins to fracture.

It’s a big swing for Brittney,...

Exclusive: Tom Brittney has been set as co-lead of the MGM+ series The Westies, opposite J.K. Simmons in the upcoming period crime drama series from Chris Brancato, co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner, and Michael Panes.

The Westies is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall for the Irish-American organized crime gang. Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, The Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente. However, internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.

Brittney will play James “Jimmy” Roarke, the fiercely loyal,...

Titus Welliver and J.K. Simmons' upcoming period crime drama TV show, The Westies, lands a star from Ozark in a series regular role as filming approaches. Created by Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, the upcoming crime drama TV series on MGM+ focuses on the titular Irish-American gang in the 1980s. Welliver stars as NYPD police officer Glenn Keenan, who has past connections to the Westies, while Simmons stars as the charming yet serious leader of the gang, Eamon Sweeney. Filming for the series has already been confirmed for July 2025, with shooting to begin in Toronto, Canada.

Now, Deadlinereports that Jessica Frances Dukes has joined The Westies in a series regular role. Best known for her role as Special Agent Maya Miller in Ozark, she will be portraying Birdie Polk, the Special Agent in Charge for the FBI's Gambino Task Force. Described as "sharp and unflinching," she'll have an important...

Exclusive: Jessica Frances Dukes (Ozark, The Gilded Age) has been set as a series regular in MGM+ series The Westies, the upcoming period crime drama series from Chris Brancato, co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner.

Co-created by Brancato and Michael Panes, The Westies is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall for the Irish-American organized crime gang. Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, The Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente. However, internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.

Dukes will play Birdie Polk, the...

Titus Welliver is picking up the badge once again and trading one streaming service for another. The former Bosch star will move over to MGM+ to join the cast of The Westies, an upcoming crime drama led by J.K. Simmons.

The Westies is a period drama based on the real-life Irish-American gang of the same name. Set in 1980s New York City, the MGM+ series will follow mob boss Eamon Sweeney (Simmons) as he attempts to stave off the Italian mafia, infighting among his gang, and the FBI.

The plot will focus on construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in Hell's Kitchen and how the Westies gang profited from the project. Doing so requires the gang to live up to its reputation for violence as its outnumbered by the notorious Five Families.

According to Deadline, Welliver will play NYPD officer Glenn Kenan. The character is described as torn between...

Fans of Bosch star Titus Welliver have been decidedly bummed out the past few months, what with Bosch: Legacy's end and the news that his The Equalizer spinoff was not getting picked up to series after all. But all of those frowns are about to be turned upside-down, as the silver-haired crime star has hopped aboard another new drama of a similar ilk: the J.K. Simmons-fronted MGM+ series The Westies, the story of the Irish-American mafia family that operated out of Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan in the 1980s. The crime organization was known for working with the slightly-more-notorious Italian mob at the same time — and Welliver is going to be the cop caught in the middle of it all.

According to an exclusive report from Deadline, The Westies will be set in the early '80s and center on the family at the time that the Jacob Javitz...

Bosch star Titus Welliver has landed a new role in an upcoming crime drama series with another notable actor after Bosch: Legacy's cancelation. Bosch: Legacy season 3 marked the end of Welliver's time leading a series as the titular detective, something he'd done throughout seven seasons of Bosch prior to the sequel series. While the universe of the show will continue in the upcoming Ballard spinoff, the actor will no longer be the lead character in the show. He'll still appear in some capacity going forward, but his time as the face of the series is at an end.

Now, Deadlinereports that Welliver will be leading a period crime drama series, The Westies, alongside J.K. Simmons. The series, co-created by Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, takes place in the 1980s, focusing on the Irish-American gang of the same name benefiting from the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center. However,...

Titus Welliver is returning to law enforcement — and this time, he’s going after the mob.

The former Bosch star is joining J.K. Simmons in MGM+’s The Westies, a crime drama centered around the real-life titular Irish-American crime gang in 1980s New York City, our sister site Deadline reports.

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More specifically, “The Westies is set in the early 1980s when the construction of...

Actor Titus Welliver has had a bit of a rough year. As his Amazon series Bosch: Legacy came to an end, he also lost his role in a planned spinoff of The Equalizer.

Now, Welliver has bounced back already by picking up his next big role in a TV series. Per Deadline, he has just been cast in The Westies, a period crime drama series in development for a streaming release on MGM+. The series is co-created by showrunner Chris Brancato alongside Michael Panes.

The MGM+ series is set in the early 1980s in Hell's Kitchen during the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center, on the home turf of the Westies - an Irish-American organized crime gang. "Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia," a series description reads, "the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.

Titus Welliver is leaving Los Angeles behind — and he’s not heading quietly. Deadline has revealed this evening that theBosch and Bosch: Legacy star has signed on to lead The Westies, a new period crime drama from MGM+ that pairs him opposite Oscar winner J.K. Simmons. Set in the chaotic, corrupt heart of 1980s New York, the eight-episode series begins production this July in Toronto.

The project marks a return to cop drama for Welliver, who spent over a decade defining the role of LAPD detective Harry Bosch across Bosch and its sequel Bosch: Legacy. With that series now wrapped, The Westies gives Welliver a brand-new badge and an entirely different city — but just as much inner conflict. The Emmy-nominated actor most recently led appeared in a backdoor pilot for a proposed Equalizer spinoff and stars in the Sundance-debuted indie film Ricky. Welliver will also appear as Harry Bosch in...

Exclusive: Former Bosch star Titus Welliver is back on the cop beat as a lead opposite J.K. Simmons in The Westies, MGM+‘s upcoming period crime drama series from co-creator, executive producer and showrunner Chris Brancato.

Co-created by Brancato and Michael Panes, The Westies is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall for the Irish-American organized crime gang. Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, The Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente. But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.

Welliver will play Glenn Keenan,...

With production ramping up on Season 3, House of Villains is set to premiere on Peacock in early 2026, populated by an entirely new cast of troublemakers. Well, almost entirely new.

Love her or hate her (and isn’t that the point of this show?), VH1 celebreality icon Tiffany “New York” Pollard is returning to the show for her third consecutive season, TVLine has learned. Additionally, Joel McHale will return as host, pitting the reality all-stars against each other in the hopes of bringing home the $200,000 grand prize.

More from TVLineLaid Cancelled at PeacockLaw & Order: Organized Crime Makes Us Fear That [Spoiler] Is a Goner,...

J.K. Simmons is set to lead a new period crime drama for MGM+ set in Hell's Kitchen. Called The Westies, the new series will be helmed by Narcos creator Chris Brancato.

Per Deadline, Simmons will star as Eamon Sweeny, the charismatic but ruthless leader of the Westies. The series, co-created by Brancato and Michael Panes, is set in the early 1980s during the time when construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in Hell's Kitchen brought with it a financial boon for the Irish-American organized crime gang known as the Westies. It is said that Simmons' character will bring "old-school charm and neighborhood loyalty mask[ing] fierce criminal ambition and calculated brutality."

Deadline's description of The Westies teases the intense action the series is set to showcase, while also hinting at tensions with authorities. "Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and...

Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons will headline The Westies, an eight-episode drama ordered by MGM+ that chronicles the Irish gang that terrorised New York’s Hell’s Kitchen in the early 1980s, the service announced this week. Created and run by Godfather of Harlem architect Chris Brancato with co-creator Michael Panes, the series starts filming in Toronto—and on New York exterior locations—in July for a 2026 debut across the United States, Europe and Latin America.

Simmons plays Eamon Sweeney, the syndicate’s ageing patriarch whose uneasy revenue pact with the Italian Mafia frays as younger lieutenants jostle for power while construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center promises windfall rackets.

MGM+ head Michael Wright hailed Brancato’s talent for “compelling characters operating in dangerous worlds” and called The Westies “him at his best”. Brancato said the project, long in gestation, explores “ambition, loyalty and power” against a city on the cusp of gentrification.

J.K. Simmons is set for a lead role in the MGM+ drama “The Westies,” which has now officially been ordered to series.

The show was first reported to be in development in March 2025. The series hails from creators Chris Brancato and Michael Panes. The show is based on the true story of the titular New York City gang of the same name. The official description of the series states:

“The series is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall. Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente. But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg,...

Exclusive: Oscar winner J.K. Simmons has been tapped as the lead of The Westies, MGM+’s upcoming period crime drama series from co-creator, executive producer and showrunner Chris Brancato.

Co-created by Brancato and Michael Panes, The Westies is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall for the Irish-American organized crime gang. Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente. But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.

Simmons will play Eamon Sweeney, the charismatic but ruthless leader of...

MGM+ has announced the titles coming to the premium linear channel and streaming service in May. The MGM Plus May 2025 lineup includes new episodes of Godfather of Harlem Season 4 and the film Better Man.

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of exclusive original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on demand, online, and across devices.

MGM Plus May 2025 Schedule

Series

Godfather of Harlem Season 4

The fourth season continues on Sundays

Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn).

After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic assassination, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

Produced by 20th Television,...

The 2025 Sarasota Film Festival has announced its winners, and one film in particular will draw attention for having screened to much acclaim in this bright red county, ultimately winning the top documentary prize: Kim A. Snyder’s “The Librarians,” a film that’s sounding the alarm strongly about right-wing attacks on free speech, won Best Documentary Feature, after screening at New College, a university itself subjected to a right-wing takeover and attacks on free speech.

The win for “The Librarians” caps another edition of the festival known for its strong curation (largely due to senior programmer Brian Gordon), that brings to Florida’s Gulf Coast titles from Sundance, Cannes, Palm Springs, Mill Valley, and more.

The documentary jury, comprised of freelance journalist Addie Morfoot, Impact Partners co-founder Geralyn Dreyfous, and “Lovers” director Taylor McFadden also awarded a Special Jury Mention to Sasha Wortzel’s “River of Grass,” an environmentally-focused documentary about the Everglades.

"The Uninvited” written and directed by Nadia Conners, is a new comedy feature, starring Elizabeth Reaser, Walton Goggins, Lois Smith, Eva De Dominici, Rufus Sewell, Michael Panes, Kate Comer, Roland Rubio, Annie Kurzen and Pedro Pascal, opening April 11, 2025 in theaters:

“…’Rose’ and ‘Sammy’ enjoy an idyllic life with love, a Hollywood Hills home, and a curious son. During a party, Sammy assigns the unusual significance to it, while Rose juggles preparations amid distractions.

“But the unexpected arrival of ‘Helen’, claiming residence there, oscillates between confusion & lucidity. Strangely, Helen possesses intimate knowledge of the house and its guests: an ‘Ingenue’, a director, and Rose's former flame.

“Helen's revelations during the party spark drama, unearthing hidden truths and compelling Rose to confront her past, future, and the desire for change…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

MGM+ has announced the titles coming to the premium linear channel and streaming service in April. The MGM Plus April 2025 lineup includes Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue, Godfather of Harlem Season 4, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of exclusive original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on demand, online, and across devices.

Godfather of Harlem Season 4 MGM Plus April 2025 Schedule

Series

Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue

The series finale airs on Sunday, April 6

Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue is a strikingly original and taut thriller series with a jaw-dropping reveal waiting at the end. A light aircraft with nine passengers crashes in the Mexican jungle, and everyone survives.

But then, one after another, they begin to die in strange and violent ways.

Chris Brancato is a longtime TV writer and producer, having been involved in major projects – chief among them, Netflix’s drug lord drama Narcos. Now, Brancato has joined forces with MGM+ to executive produce The Westies, a series about the Irish crime family of the same name.

A press release revealed thatThe Westies will be set in the early 1980s New York, and it’ll be centered around the attempt by the Irish to maintain control over their turf amidst the construction of the Jacob K. Javits Center – which, in the modern age, has become the venue for events such as New York Comic-Con. Despite having a considerably smaller family than the Italians, the Westies managed to retain dominance over Hell’s Kitchen, and exert their influence across the city of New York. However, internal conflict between the audacious younger generation and the more measured old guard threatens their continued control of the city.

“Narcos” creator Chris Brancato’s next project, a 1980s crime drama about a New York-based Irish gang, has been ordered to series at MGM+.

Titled “The Westies,” the eight-episode series follows the notoriously violent Irish gang of the same name. The series takes place during the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen, which promises a financial windfall.

“Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente,” reads the logline. “But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.”

Brancato created “The Westies” with Michael Panes, and both serve as executive producers.

MGM+ has made it official and ordered The Westies crime drama from Narcos creator Chris Brancato.

The Peaky Blinders-esque period drama series about fearsome Irish gangs in New York will start production in Toronto in July 2025. Martin Scorsese captured a similar storyline in his 2002 film Gangs of New York, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis and followed the rise of Irish gangs and their power struggles with other criminal groups in the area around the Five Points neighborhood of lower Manhattan.

But rather than set The Westies in the late 19th century, like Scorsese’s film, Brancato has chosen a 1980s New York City backdrop for his MGM+ crime drama.

“We are thrilled to bring our viewers another provocative, exciting crime drama from the incomparable vision of Chris Brancato,” Michael Wright, head of MGM+ said in a statement on Tuesday. “Chris is a gifted showrunner who builds his stories...

MGM+ has picked up another series from its most prolific creator, Chris Brancato, under his overall deal with the linear channel and streaming service. The Westies, which Brancato created with Michael Panes, is an eight-episode crime drama. It was first revealed by Deadline last March as being in development at MGM+.

The Westies, about New York City’s violent Irish gang, marks Brancato’s third series for MGM+ following the network’s flagship Godfather of Harlem starring Forest Whitaker, whose fourth season premieres April 13, and the crime thriller Hotel Cocaine.

Narcos co-creator Brancato serves as executive producer and showrunner on The Westies, slated to go into production in Toronto in July. The series is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall. Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia,...

"The Uninvited” written and directed by Nadia Conners, is a new comedy feature, starring Elizabeth Reaser, Walton Goggins, Lois Smith, Eva De Dominici, Rufus Sewell, Michael Panes, Kate Comer, Roland Rubio, Annie Kurzen and Pedro Pascal, opening April 11, 2025 in theaters:

“…’Rose’ and ‘Sammy’ enjoy an idyllic life with love, a Hollywood Hills home, and a curious son. During a party, Sammy assigns the unusual significance to it, while Rose juggles preparations amid distractions.

“But the unexpected arrival of ‘Helen’, claiming residence there, oscillates between confusion & lucidity. Strangely, Helen possesses intimate knowledge of the house and its guests: an ‘Ingenue’, a director, and Rose's former flame.

“Helen's revelations during the party spark drama, unearthing hidden truths and compelling Rose to confront her past, future, and the desire for change…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

MGM+ has released the trailer and key art for Season Four of Godfather of Harlem, coming to the linear and streaming service on April 13, 2025.

From Chris Brancato, creator of Narcos and Hotel Cocaine, the fourth season stars Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, alongside Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Erik Laray Harvey, Michael Raymond James, Elvis Nolasco and Erik Palladino.

The new season introduces Frank Lucas, portrayed by Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor Rome Flynn. The first three seasons are currently available to stream on MGM+.

In Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn).

After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic assassination, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

Produced by 20th Television,...

Update 3/11: The trailer for the MGM+ original series Godfather of Harlem just dropped and Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn), “a country boy looking to make a name for himself,” according to Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) in the video, is already making waves in New York City.

Watch the trailer in full above.

Previous 01/23: Forest Whitaker returns as Bumpy Johnson in Season 4 of the MGM+ original series Godfather of Harlem on April 13. A teaser released on Thursday (above) reveals newcomer Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn) has arrived in New York City and there’s potential for a lot of drama.

In Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, Bumpy continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas. After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic assassination, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

"And just like that, there she is. The switch she can flip in an instant." Did you get invited? Foton Pictures has released the official trailer for an indie drama titled The Uninvited, a party crasher film directed by Nadia Conners. This first premiered at last year's SXSW Film Festival, with a stop at the Stockholm Film Festival as well. Now set to open in theaters starting in April this spring. A woman crashes a party, sparking a comedy of errors, and a reordering of life. Rose and Sammy's Hollywood Hills party takes a chaotic turn as elderly stranger Helen exposes hidden truths, reigniting old flames, and unearthing secrets. Rose confronts her past, leaving everyone questioning their existence and desires. "To have such an incredibly talented cast, with strong chemistry, and dynamic producers, on my directorial debut is really a dream come true," states Conners. She is the wife of actor Walton Goggins,...

Foton Distribution will release “The Uninvited,” written and directed by Nadia Conners. The film made its world premiere at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival and has gone on to play at multiple festivals ahead of its release in New York on April 11 and Los Angeles on April 18. It will also premiere in Miami at the Coral Gables Art Cinema on April 18 ahead of VOD release, and will open in the U.K. on May 9th.

“The Uninvited” is a comedic drama taking place over the course of one night in the Hollywood Hills, as Rose and Sammy’s party is interrupted by an unexpected stranger, Helen. This encounter, along with the presence of other complicated characters from her past and present, forces Rose to confront her insecurities and the loneliness of a deteriorating marriage. It humorously critiques Hollywood’s beauty standards while celebrating the complexities of womanhood and explores the themes of motherhood,...

Today, premium network MGM+ released a first-look teaser for Godfather of Harlem Season 4, coming to the linear and streaming service on April 13.

From Chris Brancato, creator of Narcos and Hotel Cocaine, the fourth season stars Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, alongside Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Erik Laray Harvey, Michael Raymond James, Elvis Nolasco and Erik Palladino.

The new season introduces Frank Lucas, portrayed by Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor Rome Flynn. The first three seasons are currently available to stream on MGM+.

In Season 4 of Godfather of Harlem, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn).

After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic assassination, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

Produced by 20th Television,...

Exclusive: Michael Benjamin Washington (American Auto) and Elijah Wright (High and Low) have joined the fourth season of MGM+’s gangster drama Godfather of Harlem as recurring guest stars.

Washington will play James Baldwin, the renowned writer, social critic and activist from Harlem, known for his piercing insight into the complexities of race, identity, and human relationships. Baldwin is a commanding orator, soulful storyteller, and fierce advocate for justice.

Wright portrays Jerome Greene, a kid from Harlem, driven by a fierce sense of duty and loyalty, who initially wants to fight in Vietnam but ultimately channels his passion into the Black Panthers, where he battles for justice and equality at home.

In Season 4 of the series, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the emergence of a potential rival...

Exclusive: Erik Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) has joined the cast of Godfather of Harlem for Season 4, currently in production in New York.

Created by Chris Brancato and the late Paul Eckstein, Godfather of Harlem tells a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Forrest Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from 11 years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles.

In Season 4, Bumpy continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the emergence of a potential rival in newly arrived Black gangster Frank Lucas. After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic death, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

In a recurring role, Palladino will portray “Pino Greco,” a fearsome hitman and high-ranking underboss of the Genovese crime family. Greco is a prolific and...

Michael Chiklis has played a lot of cops, but none like Agent Dominic Zulio in the MGM+ series Hotel Cocaine. Conversely, no one would ever have imagined former Royal Pains star Mark Feuerstein as drug-addicted hippie Burton Greenberg. Yet that's what makes their performances so interesting. Both actors take the audience's presuppositions about their roles and turn them upside down.

As Hotel Cocaine continues its run on MGM+, Cbr spoke to Chiklis and Feuerstein about what drew them to their respective roles. Chiklis revealed what made him say yes to playing a DEA agent, considering he's already well-known for FX's grim police drama The Shield. And Feuerstein explained how he approached portraying a character who's almost too ridiculous to be true. One thing's for certain: both actors think the world of each other.

Cbr: Michael, given that you're so closely associated with Vic Mackey, what made you want to...

The Gotham Film & Media Institute has unveiled the three tribute recipients to be honored at the Gotham TV Awards. Mariska Hargitay will receive the Anniversary Tribute for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Peter Morgan will receive the Creator Tribute for “The Crown” and Lulu Wang will receive the Spotlight Tribute for “Expats.” The tributes will be presented during the inaugural ceremony on June 4 at Cipriani 25 in New York City.

“In launching the 2024 Gotham TV Awards, we’re proud to carry on a longstanding Gotham Awards tradition in honoring iconic artists and creators who have enriched the landscape and pushed the boundaries of TV, making an indelible impact on the medium,” said Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of The Gotham Institute. “Lulu Wang and Peter Morgan have crafted profound and ambitious shows that capture the artistic breadth of television while Mariska Hargitay has delivered one of the most iconic performances in the history of TV.

The MGM+ original drama series “Godfather of Harlem” has cast “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “How to Get Away with Murder” actor Rome Flynn as a recurring guest star during the show’s upcoming fourth season.

Flynn will portray Frank Lucas, a country boy from North Carolina who ventures to Harlem and, after initial friction with gangster Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), eventually rises to become Bumpy’s fiercest defender and right-hand man.

Academy Award winner Denzel Washington first portrayed Frank Lucas in the 2007 film “American Gangster,” which is loosely based on the criminal background of the real-life gangster who operated a drug empire in New York City during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In the TV series, the character’s story will begin ten years earlier than in the film.

“When I saw Rome’s audition, I immediately knew we’d found our man – equal parts charming and ruthless,...

MGM+ has released the official trailer and key art for the crime thriller Hotel Cocaine, which was executive produced by Chris Brancato and Guillermo Navarro (Pan’s Labyrinth).

The first episode of the series will premiere on June 16 on MGM+, and new episodes will air on Sundays until August 4.

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte, a Cuban exile and general manager of The Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine.

Businessmen, politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars, and musicians all frequented the hotel and its glitzy nightclub and restaurant. At the center of it all was Compte, who did his best to keep it all going and fulfill his own American dream.

Over the course of the season, Roman walks the tightrope between the DEA, who have...

MGM+ just unveiled the first trailer for Hotel Cocaine along with details on new cast and characters. Danny Pino takes on his first series regular role since finishing up Mayans M.C., diving back into the world of illegal drugs after five seasons playing a cartel boss.

The eight-episode crime thriller also stars Michael Chiklis (Winning Time), Mark Feuerstein (Power), Yul Vazquez (Godfather of Harlem), Tania Watson (The Head), Corina Bradley (Star-Crossed Romance), and Laura Gordon (Late Night with the Devil).

“Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), Cuban exile and general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of the late ’70s and early ’80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine; a glitzy nightclub, restaurant, and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars, and musicians,” reads MGM+’s synopsis. “At the center of it all was Compte,...

Today, premium network MGM+ revealed a first look at the crime thriller Hotel Cocaine, executive produced by Chris Brancato and Guillermo Navarro (Pan’s Labyrinth).

The teaser follows the eight-episode series’ global debut at Series Mania in Lille, France. The first episode of Hotel Cocaine will premiere on June 16 on MGM+, and new episodes will air on Sundays until August 4.

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Danny Pino), a Cuban exile and general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant, and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars, and musicians. At the center of it all was Compte, who was doing his best to keep it all going and fulfill his own American Dream.

New recurring...

Corina Bradley, Laura Gordon, and Tania Watson join ‘Hotel Cocaine’

Tania Watson (The Head), Corina Bradley (Star-Crossed Romance), and Laura Gordon (Late Night with the Devil) have joined the cast of MGM+’s crime thriller Hotel Cocaine. The threesome board the project which already has Danny Pino (Mayans M.C.), Michael Chiklis (The Shield), Mark Feuerstein (Power), and Yul Vazquez (Severance) involved as series regulars.

Chris Brancato created the series and serves as executive producer and showrunner. Additional executive producers include Michael Panes, Alfredo Barrios Jr., and Guillermo Navarro, with Navarro directing the pilot.

Hotel Cocaine is set in the 1970s and will be shot in the Dominican Republic. The eight-episode season is expected to premiere this summer.

The streaming service also announced Mayra Hermosillo, Juan Pablo Raba, Erniel Baez, Nick Barkla, Cale Ambrozic, Camila Valero, Maggie Lacey, John Ventimiglia, and Larry Powell have joined the cast in recurring and guest starring roles.

Corina Bradley, Laura Gordon, and Tania Watson join ‘Hotel Cocaine’

Tania Watson (The Head), Corina Bradley (Star-Crossed Romance), and Laura Gordon (Late Night with the Devil) have joined the cast of MGM+’s crime thriller Hotel Cocaine. The threesome board the project which already has Danny Pino (Mayans M.C.), Michael Chiklis (The Shield), Mark Feuerstein (Power), and Yul Vazquez (Severance) involved as series regulars.

Chris Brancato created the series and serves as executive producer and showrunner. Additional executive producers include Michael Panes, Alfredo Barrios Jr., and Guillermo Navarro, with Navarro directing the pilot.

Hotel Cocaine is set in the 1970s and will be shot in the Dominican Republic. The eight-episode season is expected to premiere this summer.

The streaming service also announced Mayra Hermosillo, Juan Pablo Raba, Erniel Baez, Nick Barkla, Cale Ambrozic, Camila Valero, Maggie Lacey, John Ventimiglia, and Larry Powell have joined the cast in recurring and guest starring roles.

Exclusive: Tania Watson (The Head), Corina Bradley (Star-Crossed Romance) and Laura Gordon (Late Night with the Devil) have joined Danny Pino, Yul Vazquez, Michael Chiklis and Mark Feuerstein as series regulars in the MGM+ series Hotel Cocaine. Production on the Chris Brancato and Guillermo Navarro series resumes this month in the Dominican Republic following a pause during the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

The eight-episode series from MGM+ Studios, in partnership with MGM Television, is slated to premiere this summer.

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte, a Cuban exile and general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine; a glitzy nightclub, restaurant, and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars, and musicians. At the center of it all was Compte,...

Exclusive: Actress Alexi Wasser (Poker Face) has made her feature directorial debut with Messy, a relationship comedy she also wrote and leads, which is now in post. Others appearing alongside her include Adam Goldberg (The Equalizer), Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley), Mario Cantone (And Just Like That…), Ione Skye (Beef), Jack Kilmer (Palo Alto), Michael Panes (We Bought a Zoo), Ruby McCollister (Search Party), Dion Costelloe (Blue Bloods) and Merlot.

Aiming for a run on next year’s festival circuit, Messy follows the life of brutally self-aware, promiscuous, love addict Stella Fox (Wasser), who moves to New York after a devastating break up, and all her disappointing romantic dalliances over the course of a summer.

Wasser produced the film alongside the New York-based production company Simone Films, founded by Rebekah Sherman-Myntti and Kj Rothweiler. Bart Cortright served as its cinematographer.

“I call it a comedy of disappointments, very much based on my life,...

Exclusive: MGM+ continues to round out the lead cast for Hotel Cocaine, adding Mark Feuerstein as a series regular opposite Danny Pino. In addition to Pino, Feuerstein joins previously announced Michael Chiklis and Yul Vazquez in the streamer’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato.

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians.

Feuerstein will play Burton Greenberg, the owner of the Mutiny Hotel, the “Studio 54” of Miami. He’s a fun-loving hedonist whose spiritual journey...

Exclusive: Yul Vazquez is set as a lead opposite Danny Pino & Michael Chiklis in Hotel Cocaine, MGM+’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato.

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians.

Vazquez will play Nestor Cabal, Roman Compte’s (Pino) brother and one of the biggest suppliers of cocaine to a coke-hungry Miami population. He’s dangerous, funny, wily, and seeking reunion with his long-lost brother.

Chiklis plays Agent Zulio who will stop at nothing...