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Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist is a crime drama series created by Shaye Ogbonna. Based on the 2020 podcast of the same name by Jeff Keating and Jim Roberts, the Peacock series is set in the year 1970 and it revolves around Gordon “Chicken Man” Williams as his ambition becomes the reason he is later pursued by some of the ruthless gangsters in the U.S. after their money is stolen on the night of Muhammad Ali’s return to boxing. Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist stars Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard, Dexter Darden, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, Chloe Bailey, Lori Harvey, and Sinqua Walls. So, if you loved the intense story, compelling characters, and tons of chaos in Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Tulsa King is one of the most entertaining crime comedy-drama currently airing. Created by the brilliant Taylor Sheridan, the Paramount+ series follows the story of a New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi as he is released from prison after 25 years and is now exiled by his boss to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dwight realizes that his boss might not have his best interest at heart and he starts to build his own crew in Tulsa. Tulsa King stars the great Sylvester Stallone in the lead role with Dana Delany, Garrett Hedlund, Domenick Lombardozzi, Jay Will, and Max Casella starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the compelling characters, brilliant writing, and entertaining storylines in Tulsa King here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Justified (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – FX

Justified is a neo-Western crime thriller series created by Graham Yost. Based on the 2012 novel...

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...

Exclusive: Rome Flynn is set to portray real-life drug lord Frank Lucas in the upcoming fourth season of the MGM+ series Godfather of Harlem, in an origin story of sorts from an era that has evaded both TV and film projects like the Denzel Washington-led American Gangster.

Flynn will bring to life a pivotal moment in Lucas’ life—going from “a country boy from North Carolina” to starting a new life in Harlem. While finding his way, he has “initial friction with gangster Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker)” but “eventually rises to become Bumpy’s fierce defender and right-hand man.” In Godfather of Harlem, Lucas’ story begins 10 years earlier than American Gangster.

In our first-look at Flynn as Lucas below, he has just exited a bus which has arrived at its destination: New York. Lucas has a look of curiosity mixed with a little apprehension, which is truthfully, most people...

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,...

Godfather of Harlem has been renewed for a fourth season at MGM+.

The new season, starring Forest Whitaker and co-created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, will begin production next year in New York.

Season 4 will feature Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker) as he 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.

According to MGM+, Godfather of Harlem is the No. 1 acquisition-driver for the platform, as well as one of its top original series.

“After such a long time away, I’m so excited to be returning to set alongside such an incredible cast, crew, and creative team, under the powerful leadership of Chris Brancato.

Fear not, FROMily!

Your favorite horror show will return for more scares and revelations, as MGM+ has picked up the show for season 3!

And after the events of From Season 2 Episode 10, boy, are we glad they did!

From has only grown throughout its two seasons, with audiences responding in droves to the tantalizing mystery of various groups of people trapped in a town they can't leave with monsters that go bump in the night.

From Season 2, in particular, has been nothing short of a critical darling, which was noted in the official release detailing the series' renewal.

"The first two seasons of From captivated critics and terrified and engaged fans, who have formed a thriving online community that is trying to put the pieces together week by week as the secrets of the nightmarish town—and possibly beyond—are slowly revealed," said Michael Wright, head of MGM+.

"We can't wait...

“From” will be returning to MGM+ for a third season in 2024, the linear channel and streamer announced Thursday.

MGM+ renewed the sci-fi series, which centers on a monstrous town that traps its visitors, for a 10-episode third season, just days after “From” aired its season 2 finale.

After debuting its second season on April 23, “From” currently stands as the network’s second-most viewed series, behind only “Godfather of Harlem,” which was co-created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein and stars Forest Whitaker.

Created by John Griffin, the third installment of “From” will follow up on the season 2 finale cliffhanger, as “escape will become a tantalizing and very real possibility as the true nature of the town comes into focus, and the townspeople go on offense against the myriad horrors surrounding them,” per the official logline.

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Starring Harold Perrineau (“Lost”), “From...

Paul Eckstein, co-creator of the TV series “Godfather of Harlem,” died Tuesday, an Amazon publicist confirmed to Variety. He was 59.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our brilliant colleague, Paul Eckstein, the co-creator and executive producer of ‘Godfather of Harlem’ and a beloved member of the MGM+ and ABC Signature families. Working on the series was a labor of love for Paul who based the show in part on his family’s personal history. Paul was passionate, a creative force, known for his kindness, and generosity. He was a mentor and friend to many, and he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and his longtime collaborator Chris Brancato,” MGM+ and ABC Signature said in a joint statement.

Eckstein served as a co-creator, executive producer and writer on the Emmy-award-winning series “Godfather of Harlem,” which stars Forest Whitaker as a Harlem mobster.

Paul Eckstein, the co-creator and and executive producer of “Godfather of Harlem,” has died at the age of 59. Eckstein passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday morning, his family said.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our brilliant colleague, Paul Eckstein, the co-creator and executive producer of Godfather of Harlem and a beloved member of the MGM+ and ABC Signature families,” MGM+ and ABC Signature said in a statement. “Working on the series was a labor of love for Paul who based the show in part on his family’s personal history. Paul was passionate, a creative force, known for his kindness, and generosity. He was a mentor and friend to many, and he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and his longtime collaborator Chris Brancato.”

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Paul Eckstein, who produced the 1997 MGM film Hoodlum and co-created the Epix/MGM+ drama Godfather of Harlem with his writing partner, Chris Brancato, has died. He was 59.

Eckstein died peacefully in his sleep Tuesday, according to a statement from MGM+ and ABC Signature. He was in Jamaica, where he was teaching a screenwriting workshop for Strike Star Entertainment.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our brilliant colleague Paul Eckstein, the co-creator and executive producer of Godfather of Harlem and a beloved member of the MGM+ and ABC Signature families,” the companies said. “Working on the series was a labor of love for Paul, who based the show in part on his family’s personal history.

“Paul was passionate, a creative force, known for his kindness and generosity. He was a mentor and friend to many, and he will be dearly missed.”

Eckstein also led the...

Paul Eckstein, co-creator and executive producer of the drama series Godfather of Harlem and an actor who appeared multiple times on Star Trek: Voyager and other shows, has died. He was 59. A spokesperson for MGM+ and ABC Signature told Deadline that he died unexpectedly in his sleep on June 6.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our brilliant colleague, Paul Eckstein,” MGM+ and ABC Signature said in a statement. “Working on the series was a labor of love for Paul, who based the show in part on his family’s personal history. Paul was passionate, a creative force, known for his kindness, and generosity. He was a mentor and friend to many, and he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and his longtime collaborator Chris Brancato.”

Family and friends described Eckstein as “many things: a celebrated storyteller, a devoted husband,...

As part of the Television Critics Association’s 2023 Winter Press Tour, MGM+ (still known as Epix until Jan. 15) chief Michael Wright unveiled a programming lineup and development slate that includes premiere dates for several shows including “A Spy Among Friends,” Season 2 of “From,” and “Murf the Surf.”

“It’s a new beginning for our service, as we introduce MGM+ and its distinctive brand promise to viewers on January 15. MGM+ will deliver on its iconic and beloved studio legacy, with cinematic, sophisticated, and transportive storytelling that audiences love,” said Wright in a statement. “We are growing our rich library of content, comprised of original television series and blockbuster films that celebrate the MGM brand.”

The newly rebranded premium linear channel and streaming service will launch on Jan. 15 with the Season 3 premiere of “Godfather of Harlem.” Created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, the drama series stars and is executive produced by Forest Whitaker.

MGM+, formerly Epix, unveiled its programming lineup and development slate that includes a new John Wells drama based on a Stephen L. Carter novel, a period drama about Harlem crime boss Stephanie St. Clair, based on an MGM movie, and a docuseries about the disco era.

The newly rebranded premium linear channel and streaming service will launch on January 15 in conjunction with the season three premiere of Godfather of Harlem starring and executive produced by Forest Whitaker and created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein.

The development slate includes scripted series The Emperor of Ocean Park, Hoodlum, based on the 1997 movie starring Laurence Fishburne, Tim Roth and Andy Garcia, Earth Abides, based on a George R. Stewart book, Ark, based on Stephen Baxter’s books and Kevin Kline comedy American Classic, which was previously announced. See full details below.

These series will join previously greenlit series Hotel Cocaine and San...

Yul Vázquez is teaming up with Forest Whitaker in the upcoming third season of Godfather of Harlem as a new series regular.

Godfather of Harlem tells a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from eleven years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. Season Three will find Bumpy Johnson continuing to battle for control of Harlem, with other aspirants to the throne, namely the Cuban Mafia from neighboring Spanish Harlem. Taking on the Cuban mob will put Bumpy, his loved ones, and his community in the crosshairs of not only the rival Italians, but ruthless Latin assassins and, ultimately, the CIA. Godfather of Harlem is a collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history.

Vázquez portrays Jose Miguel Battle, a former Cuban policeman who reestablishes...

“I realized there could be a gangster show that was the collision of organized crime and civil rights, and that turns out to be a Rubik’s Cube that’s incredibly difficult to solve,” declares Chris Brancato, co-creator and showrunner of “Godfather of Harlem,” which is set to premiere its anticipated third season on newly-named MGM+ (currently Epix). For our recent webchat he adds, “it was immediately apparent to us that by using the prism of the past, we could talk about things of contemporary relevance,” he explains. “What we also can see from the show is, on the one hand, things have changed greatly for African Americans. We’ve had an African American president. But on the other hand, things haven’t changed much at all, and so that’s what the show’s trying to articulate.” We talked with Brancato as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet...

Bumpy Johnson is back, and he’s ready to reclaim his territory in the Season 3 of “Godfather of Harlem.” In an exclusive clip and two exclusive photos, Johnson weighs his options as he sets his sights on new opportunities. Season 3 is set to premiere Jan. 15, 2023, on MGM+.

“If I go south of 110th St., I gotta smile, bow and and scrape. If I assert myself to a white man in a way that he doesn’t like, I get billy clubbed and I get put in jail. But, up here, it’s different. I get respect. I call the shots. Me, and me alone,” says Johnson, who is played by Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker, in an exclusive clip.

In each shot of the teaser, viewers get a glance of Johnson’s next business deals and business partners, and the harsh realities and the Black community faced during the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Exclusive: Michael Raymond-Jamesn (Sweet Girl) has been tapped for the key role of mob boss Joe Colombo opposite Forrest Whitaker in the upcoming third season of Epix drama series Godfather of Harlem.

Created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, Godfather of Harlem tells a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from eleven years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. Season 3 will find Bumpy Johnson continuing to battle for control of Harlem, with other aspirants to the throne, namely the Cuban Mafia from neighboring Spanish Harlem. Taking on the Cuban mob will put Bumpy, his loved ones, and his community in the crosshairs of not only the rival Italians, but ruthless Latin assassins and, ultimately, the CIA. Godfather of Harlem is a collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history.

Exclusive: Jason Alan Carvell (NCIS: New Orleans) has been tapped to play the key role of Malcolm X in the upcoming third season of Epix drama series Godfather of Harlem in a recasting. Production begins this week in New York on the series, starring Forrest Whitaker.

Created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, Godfather of Harlem tells a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from eleven years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. Season 3 will find Bumpy Johnson continuing to battle for control of Harlem, with other aspirants to the throne, namely the Cuban Mafia from neighboring Spanish Harlem. Taking on the Cuban mob will put Bumpy, his loved ones, and his community in the crosshairs of not only the rival Italians, but ruthless Latin assassins and, ultimately, the CIA. Godfather of Harlem is a...

Epix has renewed its drama series “Godfather of Harlem” for a third season, the network announced on Thursday morning.

Forest Whitaker returns as crime boss Bumpy Johnson, alongside a cast that includes Vincent D’Onofrio, Ilfenesh Hadera, Nigél Thatch, Lucy Fry and Antoinette Crowe-Legacy.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to my show, working alongside our truly incredible cast, crew, and writers, as we tell this unique and powerful story,” Whitaker said in a statement. “I can’t wait to get back to set, and thank [Epix president] Michael Wright, Epix, ABC Signature and our dedicated fans for their support.”

Notably, Epix did not include series star Giancarlo Esposito in its press release announcing the production’s returning cast. Insiders suggest that there is still strong interest in Esposito returning to the series, as his character is considered one of the integral elements of the show’s overall storyline.

The show’s third...

Epix has renewed the Forest Whitaker-led Godfather of Harlem for a 10-episode third season.

The critically acclaimed drama from ABC Signature is scheduled to begin production on Season 3 in New York this summer.

The renewal follows a strong second season, Epix’s best-performing season of all time, according to the network. The series broke records for any single title streams in a single day across Epix’s digital platforms, and the season two finale was the network’s best performing finale episode to date, according to Epix.

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

Season 3 will find Bumpy Johnson continuing to battle for control of Harlem, with other aspirants to the throne, namely the Cuban Mafia from neighboring Spanish Harlem.

Bumpy Johnson’s wild ride through New York’s criminal underworld continues on August 8, when Godfather of Harlem returns for the back half of its second season.

In Epix’s crime drama created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker plays the infamous crime boss, who wars with the Italian mob to regain control of his home turf when he gets out of Alcatraz in the early 1960s, aligning himself at the same time with Malcolm X (Nigel Thatch).

In Season 2, the series continues to examine the connection between crime, politics and systemic racism in America, then and now. The intersection between these facets of American culture is explored in depth in the midseason finale, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” which was written by Brancato & Michael Panes and which you can read in full below.

The episode sees a sense of political consciousness awakening within Johnson, as...

In Godfather of Harlem, Forest Whitaker has tapped into one of the complex roles and narratives of a storied career, which has already netted him an Oscar, a BAFTA Award, two SAG statuettes, the Cannes Film Festival’s award for Best Actor and countless other accolades.

The character he plays in the Epix series, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, is infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson, who wars with the Italian mob to regain control of his home turf when he gets out of Alcatraz in the early 1960s, aligning himself at the same time with preacher Malcolm X.

Beyond its entertainment value as a crime drama, the series which he also exec produces has real weight and contemporary resonance, exploring the intersection between crime, politics and systemic racism within the U.S.

Interestingly, the themes and ideas explored are ones that Whitaker had already been thinking about for decades,...

“It’s a big pressure cooker,” reveals Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker about the much anticipated second season of the Epix crime drama “Godfather of Harlem,” which premiered April 18 on the premium cable network.

Season 2 opens with Whitaker’s drug kingpin emerging from three months in hiding after the shocking events of the first season finale when his rivals in the Italian mob put out a hit on him. Watch our exclusive video interview with Whitaker above as we explore what we can expect from Season 2.

See Every Marvel Cinematic Universe actor who’s been nominated for an Oscar

In “Godfather of Harlem,” Whitaker plays real-life crime boss Bumpy Johnson, who last season returned from 10 years in prison to find his beloved Harlem neighborhood, which he once controlled, now run by the nefarious Italian mafia. In his efforts to reclaim the streets alongside old friend Malcolm X (Nigel Thatch), Bumpy...

In today’s TV news roundup, Paramount Plus set the release date for the seventh and final season of “Younger,” and Mindy Kaling has joined the cast of “Monsters At Work.”

Dates

Paramount Plus announced that the seventh and final season of “Younger” will premiere on April 15. The first four episodes will be available to stream at premiere, while the remaining eight episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays. Additionally, the full season will air on TV Land later this year. “Younger” follows Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), a talented editor navigating the highly competitive world of publishing — while juggling the complications of mixing business with pleasure and facing the lie she created about her age to land her dream job. In the final season, Liza’s personal life is on shaky ground as she tries to stay true to herself. After a setback at work, Kelsey (Hillary Duff) doubts her career...

Godfather of Harlem expands its cast with the addition of Justin Bartha, Annabella Sciorra and Ronald Guttman, who will take on recurring roles in season two of the Epix drama. Also set to recur are Gino Cafarelli and Isaach De Bankolé.

Also coming to the crime drama as guest stars are Method Man, Michael Rispoli, Neal Matarazzo and Grace Porter, who was previously announced to appear as Betty Shabazz. Erik Laray Harvey and Demi Singleton have also been upped to series regulars for season 2, which will premiere Sunday, April. 18.

Godfather of Harlem season 2 sees Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) battling the New York Crime Families for control of the lucrative and murderous “French Connection,” the pipeline for heroin that runs from Marseilles to New York Harbor. With a distribution syndicate that includes black crime bosses from other major U.S. cities, Bumpy takes a cue from his friend Malcolm X’s...

“Bumpy Johnson is gonna be dead by the end of the day.”

Can we get that in writing, please?

Epix has released the first teaser for Season 2 of its period crime drama Godfather of Harlem and set its premiere for Sunday, April 18. Have a look above.

Oscar winner Forest Whitaker executive produces the series and stars as crime boss Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, who returns to early-1960s Harlem after 11 years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. Season 2 sees Bumpy continue his struggle to reclaim command over the town from the Italian mobsters by attempting to seed internal discord and sever their vital heroin pipeline. Meanwhile, Malcolm X (Nigél Thatch) will be forced to choose between violent and nonviolent responses to the near-constant threats to his life, and his relationship with Bumpy will be severely tested.

Vincent D’Onofrio, Ilfenesh Hadera, Giancarlo Esposito, Lucy Fry, Rafi Gavron and Antoinette Crowe-Legacy co-star,...

ABC is putting Keegan-Michael Key on the case. The comedian is set to executive-produce and star in a drama series based on Stephen Mack Jones’ August Snow crime novels, our sister site Deadline reports. The project has been given a script commitment plus penalty.

Jones, who is serving as a consulting producer, began publishing his August Snow series in 2018. When the character was first introduced, he was described as “tough, smart and struggling to stay alive … the embodiment of Detroit,” per the official description. “The son of an African-American father and a Mexican-American mother, August grew up in the city...

Exclusive: In a competitive situation, ABC has landed August Snow, a drama starring and executive produced by Keegan-Michael Key. It hails from Godfather of Harlem co-creator/executive producer Paul Eckstein, Imagine Television Studios and CBS Studios where Imagine has a deal. Written by Eckstein based on Stephen Mack Jones’ “August Snow” novels, the drama has received a script commitment plus penalty.

August Snow (Key) is a biracial former detective who grew up in Detroit’s Mexicantown. After a distinguished military career, he joined the force like his father, only to be drummed out by a conspiracy led by corrupt cops and politicians. August hit back, winning an $18 million wrongful dismissal lawsuit, then packed his bags to travel the world. The series will open with August returning home to the city he has deep affection for in search of himself and reconnecting with his roots while also facing enemies on both sides of the law.

Rebekah Graf (S.W.A.T.) is set for a recurring role opposite Keegan Allen and Jared Padalecki in the CW’s Walker, a reimagining of CBS’ long-running 1990s action/crime series Walker, Texas Ranger, from Rideback and CBS Studios. Like the original series, created by Albert S. Ruddy & Leslie Greif, the reboot, in which Walker is getting a female partner, will explore morality, family and rediscovering our lost common ground. Graf will play Crystal, a bright eyed, wild and charming woman, the type who married an unhinged criminal because he promised her an exciting life. She is reckless and lies with ease, but there is a humanity beneath her. Graf recently guest-starred on S.W.A.T. She played Heather Locklear in Netflix’s Motley Crue movie The Dirt and can next be seen in the indie feature Grace and Grit. Graf is repped by Media Artists Group, Matt Sherman Management and attorney Derek Kroeger.

Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker stars as real-life gangster Bumpy Johnson on the Epix drama “Godfather of Harlem.” The 1960s-based series is reportedly the top-rated show on the network.

Whitaker spoke with Gold Derby senior editor Rob Licuria recently about what attracted him to “Godfather of Harlem,” his research process to play Johnson and his memories of winning an Oscar for “The Last King of Scotland.” Watch the exclusive video chat above and read the complete interview transcript below.

SEEEmmys 2020 exclusive: Epix categories for ‘Belgravia,’ ‘Godfather of Harlem,’ ‘Pennyworth,’ ‘Perpetual Grace Ltd’

Gold Derby: Forest, organized crime has always been a really popular genre on TV and in films like “The Godfather,” “The Sopranos,” “The Wire” and now your show. Why do we all flock to films and TV shows about the mob and about crime bosses like Bumpy Johnson?

Forest Whitaker: One, it’s about the exploration of power...

It’s official: Bumpy Johnson will return to the streets of Harlem once again. Epix has renewed its crime drama — and “American Gangster” prequel — “Godfather of Harlem” for a second season.

Starring Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker as the infamous gangster and crime boss Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, Epix’s “Godfather of Harlem” takes place in 1963, immediately after Johnson is released from an 11-year stint at Alcatraz. Upon returning to his Harlem neighborhood, Johnson takes on Vincent “Chin” Gigante (Vincent D’Onofrio) and the Italian mob that brought things to shambles and strikes up an alliance with his old friend Malcolm X.

Co-created by “Narcos” co-creators Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, “Godfather of Harlem” is described as a series about the “collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history.”

“Godfather of Harlem season one was a remarkable success, tripling previous...

Epix has renewed “Godfather of Harlem” for a second season. Forest Whitaker executive produces and stars as Bumpy Johnson on the ABC Signature Studios series.

The 10-episode sophomore season, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, will begin production in New York later this year.

“‘Godfather of Harlem’ season one was a remarkable success, tripling previous viewership numbers for the network and earning acclaim from both critics and viewers alike,” said Michael Wright, president of Epix. “We couldn’t wait to reunite with Chris, Paul, Forest and the team at ABC Signature to continue telling this compelling and extremely relevant story.”

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“Godfather of Harlem” tells a story inspired by crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from 11 years in prison...

“Godfather of Harlem,” starring Forest Whitaker, has been renewed for a second season at Epix.

Production on the 10-episode second season, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, will begin production in New York later in 2020.

“’Godfather of Harlem’ season one was a remarkable success, tripling previous viewership numbers for the network and earning acclaim from both critics and viewers alike,” said Epix president Michael Wright. “We couldn’t wait to reunite with Chris, Paul, Forest and the team at ABC Signature to continue telling this compelling and extremely relevant story.”

The series centers around a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from eleven years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. With the streets controlled by the Italian mob, Bumpy must take on the Genovese crime family to regain control.

In addition to Whitaker, who is also an executive producer,...

Forest Whitaker-led Godfather of Harlem is coming back for another go-round. Epix has renewed the drama series, from ABC Signature, for a 10-episode second season. Production on season 2 will begin in New York later this year.

While Epix does not release viewership data, Godfather of Harlem, boosted by strong word of mouth, has been a breakout hit, becoming the network’s top series. Epix President Michael Wright revealed some ratings data in announcing the drama’s renewal.

“Godfather of Harlem season one was a remarkable success, tripling previous viewership numbers for the network and earning acclaim from both critics and viewers alike,” said Wright. “We couldn’t wait to reunite with Chris, Paul, Forest and the team at ABC Signature to continue telling this compelling and extremely relevant story.”

While never in doubt, the Season 2 renewal for Godfather of Harlem comes more than two months after Season 1 ended its run on the network.

Epix is going back to Harlem.

The MGM-backed premium cable network has handed out a second-season renewal to its Forest Whitaker-led crime drama Godfather of Harlem. The news arrives two months after the series wrapped its freshman run.

The 1960s-set show, inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson, hails from Disney's cable- and streaming-focused arm ABC Signature Studios and was created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein (Narcos). Production on the 10-episode second season will begin later this year in New York. A return date has not been determined.

"Godfather of Harlem season one was a remarkable success,...

Tony Sokol Dec 2, 2019

Crime is part of the American experience, says Paul Eckstein, creator of Godfather of Harlem.

Martin Scorsese's The Irishman appears to be a swan song for an era of the gangster film. But Epix's Godfather of Harlem, which just closed out its premiere season, is keeping the genre fresh.

The series bridges generations of actors to tell the story of a mob kingpin who bridged the criminal worlds. Bumpy Johnson, played by Oscar-winning actor and director Forest Whitaker, ran Harlem under Mafia protection in a deal brokered by "Lucky" Luciano which lasted forty years. By the time he was 30, Johnson had spent almost half his life in prison. He went back in for a 15-year stretch in 1951 for conspiring to sell heroin. The series paints him as a standup guy, who did time rather than implicate his Mafia partners.

Johnson was a poet who contributed to...

An essential part of Epix’s fall slate is the dramatic “Godfather of Harlem,” starring Forest Whitaker (who also executive produces) as the real-life Bumpy Johnson. Taking place in the mid-1960s after Johnson got out of prison, the show mixes the familial challenges Johnson faced when returning home with the political issues of the time. It follows his rise to power as a drug kingpin in Harlem, and shines light on his pivotal relationships with Malcolm X (Nigel Thatch) and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (Giancarlo Esposito).

“This is the education of Bumpy Johnson,” says co-creator Chris Brancato. “What interested us most was the idea that what we would do through the show was explore the collision of crime and civil rights in early-’60s Harlem with an eye towards contemporary themes like police brutality, drug addiction, gang warfare, the situation in the ghetto.”

Brancato and co-creator Paul Eckstein have...

Producer Nina Yang Bongiovi has made a name for herself fighting for first-time indie filmmakers telling stories about underrepresented people and communities. And though her new series “Godfather of Harlem” had Forest Whitaker attached to play well-known gangster Bumpy Johnson, she still fought an uphill battle to get the show made.

But Yang Bongiovi got a huge boost when Ryan Coogler — whose first feature “Fruitvale Station” she championed back in 2013 — scored a critical and commercial hit with 2018’s “Black Panther.” It proved she had a sharp eye for talent.

“When people were really on the fence about ‘Godfather of Harlem’ … last year about January … people were considering it and they weren’t sure. And then ‘Black Panther’ hit, and it reaffirmed what our worth is when it comes to a show like ‘Godfather,’ Yang Bongiovi said in an interview with TheWrap. “How crazy is it that we launched Ryan Coogler’s career?...

“I got guns,” legendary gangster Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) announces. “I got soldiers,” Malcolm X (Nigel Thatch) replies. For Epix’s new Godfather of Harlem — a Sixties period piece that mixes Mob action with civil-rights rhetoric — it’s a match made in gritty-drama heaven.

Co-created by the Narcos team of Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, Harlem is the sort of thing you may be inclined to watch if you’re inclined to watch this sort of thing — for good and for ill. Think Boardwalk Empire, a few decades later and without the loftier artistic ambitions,...

Forest Whitaker is the sort of star seemingly built to make the leap to television: He’s a decorated leading man whose subtlety of approach and whose commitment to delicate, unusual acting choices would seem to potentially play even better on the small screen. After stints on various network shows, Whitaker finally gets his showcase in “Godfather of Harlem,” a new Epix hourlong series set in the political ferment of the early 1960s. And, through his recessive and quiet charisma, he provides the strongest case for the series.

Like others of Epix’s recent series, including “Pennyworth” and “Perpetual Grace, Ltd.”, “Godfather of Harlem” has a strong popcorn element: It’s aiming more for extreme watchability than for prestige. Which makes it a compelling fit for Whitaker, who, as the career criminal Bumpy Johnson, recently freed from prison, returns to Harlem to rule his domain with quiet, seething power. The...

The “musicale finale” of Amazon’s series “Transparent” will make its world premiere as part of the Tribeca TV Festival this fall, Tribeca announced as part of the festival’s lineup Monday. It will be followed by a conversation with executive producers Jill Soloway and Faith Soloway.

Several new series are also making their premiere as part of the annual festival now in its third year, including Hulu’s “Looking for Alaska,” the Starz true-crime documentary series “Leavenworth,” the Epix drama “Godfather of Harlem” starring Forest Whitaker, the Bet+ remake of the comedy series “First Wives Club,” the CBS series “Evil” and a spinoff of “Riverdale” for The CW called “Katy Keene” starring Lucy Hale.

The premieres of the new seasons of shows including “Goliath,” “Room 104” and “Bless This Mess” are also screening as part of the festival.

Also Read: 'Transparent' Musical Finale Trailer Cues Up Singing,...

Festival to run in New York from Sept 12-15.

The Tribeca TV Festival has announced a line-up that includes the world premieres of Forest Whitaker crime drama series Godfather Of Harlem for Epix, producer Josh Schwartz’s limited Hulu series Looking For Alaska, and producer Greg Berlanti’s Riverdale spin-off Katy Keene for the CW.

Also set for the festival’s third edition, which runs from September 12-15 in New York City’s Regal Battery Park, is a 25th anniversary celebration of Friends and a closing night screening of the musical finale of Amazon’s streaming series Transparent.

Whitaker and...

“Harlem is a tinder box” and “it’s about to explode” in the first trailer for upcoming Epix series, “Godfather of Harlem,” which stars Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson.

The 10-episode, hour-long drama series is inspired by the story of Johnson, a crime boss who in the early 1960s returned from 10 years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. With the streets controlled by the Italian mob, Johnson must take on the Genovese crime family to regain control. During the brutal battle, he forms an alliance with radical preacher Malcolm X (Nigél Thatch), catching Malcolm’s political rise in the crosshairs of social upheaval and a mob war that threatens to tear the city apart.

Epix describes “Godfather of Harlem” as “a collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history.”

Also Read: Don't Expect...

Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein’s new Epix series Godfather of Harlem tells the story of crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), a figure in the early 1960s who returned from a ten-year jail stint to find his neighborhood overrun by the Italian mob.

One of the more intriguing true-life historical points played out in the series is his relationship with Malcolm X, as the two join forces to manage the social upheaval and mob war that looms. In the trailer, Malcolm X says to Johnson, “You have guns, but I have an army.”

“Bumpy has his hustle going, and Malcolm has his,” Brancato told Deadline following the TCA afternoon session.

Brancato shared with the TCA press corps that as part of the creators’ research about the duo’s unique relationship, they not only combed through books about Malcolm X and Johnson, but interviews were conducted with “surviving heirs” of the two.

Tony Sokol Jun 13, 2019

Uptown mobster Bumpy Johnson was a poet. Epix's upcoming Godfather of Harlem shows he was also an activist.

"Bumpy" Johnson was around when the Genovese crime family still had "Lucky" Luciano's name on it. He got out of prison around the time Malcolm X preached common sense. The upcoming gangster series Godfather of Harlem will premiere on Epix on September 29, according to Deadline. Oscar-winning actor and director Forest Whitaker will star as Bumpy Johnson. Ilfenesh Hadera (She's Gotta Have It), will play Mayme Hatcher Johnson, Bumpy's wife. The trailer says Johnson will bring back his community “by any means necessary.”

You can watch the trailer here:

Video of Godfather of Harlem (Epix 2019 Series) Official Teaser – Forest Whitaker, Vincent D’Onofrio

Bumpy was a poet during his gangster hey day, who contributed to the culture of the Harlem Renaissance. Godfather of Harlem tells the "true story of infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson,...

Nonprofit Ghetto Film School hosted its annual live table reading at NeueHouse Hollywood (where Ghetto Film School is based in Los Angeles) on May 29. The annual gathering provides in-person feedback to scripts going into production this summer, all written by its 14-17 year old students.

Participating talent gathered at NeueHouse’s rooftop restaurant in the heart of Hollywood to read two scripts that will be shot by a student-run production team in Rome, Italy and at The Frick Collection in New York.

Following the reading, they provided detailed table notes and suggested revisions for the students to consider before heading into production. The films will premiere at a special screening next spring.

In line with NeueHouse’s mission to connect cultural innovators and act as a platform to ignite new ideas, Ghetto Film School focuses on creating a platform for the next generation of filmmakers. She school has campuses in Los Angeles,...

In today’s roundup, Netflix releases the official trailer for the comedy special “Kevin Hart: Irresponsible” and Josh Charles joins Showtime’s Roger Ailes series “The Loudest Voice.”

Dates

Season two of “Yellowstone,” starring Kevin Costner, will premiere on Paramount Network on June 19 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt. The sophomore season will continue the story of rancher John Dutton (Costner) as he defends his plot of land from new threats. The cast also includes Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley and Cole Hauser.

Casting

“The Good Wife” star Josh Charles will have a recurring role on Showtime‘s upcoming limited series “The Loudest Voice” about Fox News founder Roger Ailes. Charles will portray Casey Close, a sports agent and the husband of former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, who will be played by Naomi Watts.

The upcoming Hulu limited series “Looking For Alaska” has added Denny Love, Jay Lee,...