Forest Whitaker’s Bumpy Johnson is back, and he’s facing enemies on all sides. The streets of Harlem are about to get a whole lot more dangerous as MGM+ prepares to premiere the fourth season of “Godfather of Harlem” on April 13, 2025, with Bumpy’s grip on power facing threats from the Italian Mafia and a new, ambitious rival: Frank Lucas, played by Rome Flynn.
The series, a gritty crime drama that has woven fact with fiction, returns to a Harlem still reeling from the seismic shift of Malcolm X’s assassination. Bumpy, who carved out his place in the city’s underworld, is now forced to deal with the rise of a new generation of gangsters eager to take his place; and none are more eager than the infamous Frank Lucas.
But the problems facing Bumpy aren’t just external; he’s caught between the violence of the streets and the turmoil at home. The series will continue to explore his daughter’s deepening commitment to the Black Panthers, a political firestorm that could rip apart his family.
The series, produced by 20th Television, is executive produced by Chris Brancato, a name familiar to many, who also created “Narcos” and “Hotel Cocaine”. The show takes its inspiration from the real-life story of Bumpy Johnson, who, after a prison sentence, returned to a city that he felt was rightfully his. Now, as he takes on his many enemies, the arrival of Frank Lucas will force Bumpy to fight harder than ever to maintain control of his empire. Swizz Beatz returns to bring the heat as the executive music producer for the show, setting the tone for the coming power struggle.
If you’ve not yet entered the world of “Godfather of Harlem”, all three prior seasons are available to stream on MGM+. For fans of crime dramas and anyone with an appetite for historical shows that pull no punches, this season’s clash between Bumpy and Frank is a must-see.