J.K. Simmons Leads a Brutal Gang War in First Trailer for MGM+ Crime Drama THE WESTIES
MGM+ has released the first trailer for The Westies, and if you're a fan of gritty crime sagas packed with gang warfare, shifting loyalties, and larger-than-life mob figures, this one looks like it could be right up your alley.
The upcoming eight-episode drama premieres on July 12 and comes from Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, with Brancato bringing his crime drama pedigree from Narcos, Narcos: Mexico, Godfather of Harlem, and Hotel Cocaine.
Set in New York City's Hell's Kitchen during the early 1980s, The Westies centers on the infamous Irish-American gang that controlled the neighborhood while navigating an uneasy relationship with New York's powerful Italian Mafia families.
As construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center creates a major financial opportunity on their turf, tensions begin to boil over both inside and outside the organization.
Leading the cast is J.K. Simmons as Eamon Sweeney, the charismatic yet ruthless boss of the Westies. Beneath his friendly neighborhood image lies a calculating criminal willing to do whatever it takes to maintain power.
Alongside him is Tom Brittney as James "Jimmy" Roarke, an ambitious younger gangster whose loyalty to Sweeney is tested as the gang's future becomes increasingly uncertain.
The series also stars Titus Welliver as troubled NYPD officer Glenn Keenan, Jessica Frances Dukes as FBI Special Agent Birdie Polk, with Allen Leech and Sarah Bolger rounding out the ensemble.
According to Brancato, the trailer only scratches the surface of the conflict brewing within the organization.
“The trailer showcases J.K. and Titus, and the other actors are performing in a situation where the Irish are tied to the Gambino Italian crime family, and at the same time, Eamon is also dealing with a little bit of internal rebellion amongst the younger Westies who are under his command.It also teases the fact that within the Westies, there’s going to be drama and conflicts to come.”
That internal struggle becomes one of the season's major storylines. While the older generation wants to stick to traditional criminal enterprises, younger members are eager to cash in on the cocaine boom sweeping through the decade.
Brancato explained: “The series as a whole depicts the Westies’ internal divisions, which really came as a result of the younger Westies decision to traffic in a drug that was very big in the 80s, which was cocaine.
“The older Westies are against it, for fear that it might land people in jail or cause them to rat on others. That’s a side plot that occurs throughout the season, as well as the Westies conflict with John Gotti [Hamish Allan-Headley] and the Gambino crime family, which at the time was led by a guy named Paul Castellano. Eventually, John Gotti took over the Gambino crime family, but that’s stuff for Season 2.”
If that wasn't enough trouble, viewers can also expect plenty of casualties as rival gangs, law enforcement, and internal feuds collide throughout the season.
Brancato offered a warning for anyone who gets attached to their favorite characters: “There is a body count on the show. There are people who drop, but hopefully, when that happens, it’ll feel to the viewer like it’s absolutely appropriate and dictated by the circumstances of the plot,” said Brancato.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the series is its recreation of 1980s New York. While the production was filmed in Toronto, the creative team went to impressive lengths to capture the look and atmosphere of the city during one of its most chaotic and fascinating eras.
Brancato said: “I was around in New York City in the 80s, so I remember it vividly. The challenge for the show was, how do you replicate 1980 New York City when you’re shooting in Toronto?
“What we determined was that it was going to be very difficult to shoot on the streets of Toronto and have it look anything like 1980 New York, so we built a 240-foot New York street that is absolutely authentic to the era. We built that exterior at our stages, so we film a lot of the show out on a big outdoor set.”
The producer went on to explain how visual effects helped complete the illusion: “With the visual effects we used, we managed to create a real sense of time and place that I think viewers are really going to appreciate. They’re put into this time capsule of a period that was like no other; it was the go-go 80s in New York. It was Donald Trump. It was madness.”
Despite Trump's prominence in New York during that period, audiences shouldn't expect to see him pop up in Season 1. “No, we decided to leave him out. He gets enough press,” Broncato said with a laugh.
Between Simmons leading a volatile criminal empire, Welliver caught in the middle, the looming threat of the Gambino crime family, and an FBI task force closing in, The Westies looks poised to deliver the kind of intense crime drama that fans of Narcos and Godfather of Harlem will want to keep on their radar.
Check out the newly released trailer and let us know if The Westies has earned a spot on your watchlist.