Creator Reveals Titus Welliver’s New Crime Drama ‘The Westies’ Began as a Spinoff Idea

Titus Welliver is gearing up for an exciting television journey, with several new projects and returning roles on the horizon. One of his most anticipated upcoming appearances is in The Westies, a new MGM+ crime drama that delves into the violent underbelly of 1980s New York City. The series is set to premiere on July 12, as confirmed by MGM+ and reported by Deadline.

Set in Hell’s Kitchen during a transformative period for the city, the show follows an Irish-American gang known as the Westies, who were active from the 1960s through the 1980s. The narrative centers on their struggle to navigate a perilous environment where crime families, wealth, and power are in constant conflict.

Welliver takes on the role of Glenn Keenan, a troubled NYPD officer with deep connections to the Westies. The cast also features J.K. Simmons as Eamon Sweeney, the gang’s leader, alongside Tom Brittney, Jessica Frances Dukes, and other supporting actors.

In an interview with Deadline, creator Chris Brancato revealed that the concept for The Westies initially emerged from a different context. The gang was originally intended to be part of the narrative universe of Godfather of Harlem, another MGM+ crime series, where they would serve as adversaries to Forest Whitaker’s character, Bumpy Johnson.

Brancato shared that during development discussions, MGM+ executive Michael Wright recognized the potential for a larger story. Instead of merely incorporating the Westies into another narrative, Wright proposed that they could lead their own series.

“I would do a whole show about the Westies,” Brancato recalled Wright saying during their discussions.

This suggestion significantly altered the project’s trajectory. Brancato noted that the creative team began to view the Westies as a group with enough depth and history to warrant a full series. He described them as a small yet violent gang that managed to survive in a criminal landscape dominated by the Italian mafia.

The creator also discussed the series’ tone, explaining that the Westies were not a conventional organized crime group. Instead, they were characterized by chaos and unpredictability, which made them both formidable and self-destructive. He likened their narrative to a tragedy, where internal strife and ambition continually place them in jeopardy.

The series will examine how the gang operates during a tumultuous era in New York City’s history. The early 1980s backdrop features economic challenges, escalating drug activity, and significant urban development projects that reshape neighborhoods like Hell’s Kitchen. These changes present both opportunities and threats for the characters.

Alongside Welliver and Simmons, the cast includes actors portraying both law enforcement and criminal figures, enhancing the tension between the FBI, the mafia, and the Westies. The show also delves into generational conflicts within the gang, as younger members begin to question the older leadership.

The Westies is set to premiere as Godfather of Harlem concludes its four-season run. This timing has sparked curiosity about whether the new series could evolve into MGM+’s next enduring crime drama.

According to MGM+ promotional materials and statements from the production team, the aim is to create a grounded and character-driven narrative that stands independently while still sharing creative roots with Godfather of Harlem.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!