'Godfather of Harlem': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and everything you need to know about the upcoming Epix series
The true story of Bumpy Johnson, a mobster who once ruled over Harlem, is the subject of a new drama series from Epix. Starring Forest Whitaker, 'Godfather of Harlem' tells the story of Johnson's release from prison in the early 1960s and his ensuing war with the Genovese crime family.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming series:
Release Date:
'Godfather of Harlem' will premiere on September 29, 2019.
Where to watch:
The show will be aired exclusively on Epix.
Plot:
The real Bumpy Johnson, whose life is the basis for the series, was an American mob boss and bookmaker in New York City's Harlem neighborhood. He was an associate of Charles "Lucky" Luciano and the Genovese crime family. Johnson's criminal career has inspired multiple films and television shows.
Here's the story according to the Epix website: "Godfather of Harlem tells the true story of infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from ten 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. During the brutal battle, he forms an alliance with radical preacher Malcolm X – catching Malcolm’s political rise in the crosshairs of social upheaval and a mob war that threatens to tear the city apart. 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."
Cast:
Forest Whitaker
Whitaker is perhaps best known for having played the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the film 'The Last King of Scotland', a role which won him an Academy Award. The 58-year-old actor will be playing Bumpy Johnson on the show.
Whitaker is renowned for his intense character roles and has been a part of multiple blockbuster films including 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' in which he played Saw Gerrera and 'Black Panther' in which he appeared as Zuri.
The cast of 'Godfather of Harlem' also includes Vincent D'Onofrio as Vincent Gigante, Ilfenesh Hadera as Mayme Johnson, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy as Elise, Nigél Thatch as Malcolm X, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Teddy Greene, Lucy Fry as Stella, Paul Sorvino as Frank Costello, Giancarlo Esposito as Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Rafi Gavron as Ernie Nunzi among others.
Showrunner:
Chris Brancato
Brancato is an acclaimed writer and producer, known for 'Species II', 'First Wave', and the 'Hannibal' TV series. Besides serving as the showrunner for 'Godfather of Harlem', Brancato is also set to write for the series in collaboration with Paul Eckstein. Brancato is also an executive producer on the series alongside Whitaker, Eckstein, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson and Markuann Smith.
Trailer:
The extended trailer for 'Godfather of Harlem' shows Bumpy Johnson walking out of prison after spending a decade behind bars. While he's been away, things have changed in Harlem. The streets are overrun by rival mobsters and heroin use is rampant across the region.
Bumpy finds an unlikely ally in firebrand activist Malcolm X, who offers his men as soldiers in a war against white supremacists and drug dealers. As things start to intensify, Bumpy must find an answer to the question Malcolm poses to him in the trailer: "Every man has a legacy, whether he wants one or not. What is yours going to be?"
If you’re excited about this show, you’ll also love these:
'Peaky Blinders', 'City On A Hill', 'The Alienist', 'Black Monday' and 'Luke Cage'.