Oscar-winner to star in Narcos creator’s new crime drama about infamous Irish gang

The Narcos and Narcos: Mexico creator has called the series a 'passion project' for him.

This is the upcoming series from Godfather of Harlem, Narcos and Narcos: Mexico co-creator Chris Brancato about the infamous Irish-American organised crime gang.

Named after the New York City-based gang, the eight-episode show will be 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".

The plot synopsis adds: "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, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia."

It had previously been announced that Brancato will serve as showrunner on the new crime drama series, which he co-created alongside actor and writer Michael Panes (Godfather of Harlem).

J.K. Simmons

And now Simmons has been confirmed to star in the show as Eamon Swenney, who is described as the charismatic but ruthless leader of The Westies.

The actor won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in the 2014 psychological music drama Whiplash.

He was later nominated in the same category at the Academy Awards for his turn in 2021's biographical drama Being the Ricardos.

Simmons is also well known for playing J. Jonah Jameson in several Spider-Man movies.

Being made for streaming service MGM+, The Westies is scheduled to go into production in Toronto, Canada, in July.

“We are thrilled to bring our viewers another provocative, exciting crime drama from the incomparable vision of Chris Brancato,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+, in a statement back in March.

“Chris is a gifted showrunner who builds his stories around compelling characters operating in dangerous worlds about to explode. The Westies is him at his best, and we can’t wait to bring it to our MGM+ audience.”

Brancato, at the time, added: “The Westies has been a passion project of mine, and I can’t wait to bring it to life.

"This is a story about ambition, loyalty, and power, set against the backdrop of 1980s New York.

"I’m grateful to be working again alongside my collaborators Michael Panes and most especially with Michael Wright and the entire MGM+ team.”

MGM+ is available in Ireland as an add-on subscription to Prime Video.