MGM+ has commissioned a new crime drama, The Westies, from Chris Brancato, the creator of Godfather of Harlem. The eight-episode series will center on the notorious Irish gang of the same name in 1980s New York City.
Here’s the Lowdown: The Westies is set in the early 1980s during the construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Hell’s Kitchen, the gang’s territory. Despite being significantly outnumbered by the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ fierce reputation allows them to negotiate a share of the potential profits. However, internal power struggles threaten to ignite a conflict and bring them under the scrutiny of the FBI.
What This Means Now: This is Brancato’s third series with MGM+, following Godfather of Harlem (which has its fourth season premiering on April 13) and Hotel Cocaine. Production on The Westies is scheduled to begin in Toronto, Canada, in July, with a premiere date exclusively on MGM+ in several countries including the US and UK to be announced.
The Bigger Picture: The Westies adds another hard-hitting crime drama to MGM+’s growing catalog, highlighting Brancato’s ability to create compelling characters within dangerous settings. The series explores themes of ambition, loyalty, and power within a specific historical period, depicting the turbulent world of organized crime in 1980s New York. Amazon MGM Studios Distribution will be responsible for distribution outside of MGM+’s primary territories.
