Titus Welliver Joins J.K. Simmons in Gritty MGM+ Crime Series THE WESTIES
Titus Welliver is stepping back into a badge, but this time, it's dirty.
The Bosch star has been cast opposite J.K. Simmons in The Westies, a new MGM+ period crime series created by Chris Brancato (Godfather of Harlem) and Michael Panes.
Set in the early 1980s, the series drops into the brutal world of Hell’s Kitchen’s infamous Irish mob, just as the construction of the Jacob Javits Center opens up new opportunities and new enemies.
In The Westies, Welliver plays Glenn Keenan, a conflicted NYPD officer raised among the Westies crew. He’s a man caught in a classic crime story crossroads: law versus blood. His loyalty to the badge is tested by his deep ties to the gang and his love for his son, who’s slipping down a dark path.
This is great role for Welliver to take on, and it will be fun to see him share the screen with Simmons, who plays Eamon Sweeney, the Westies’ charismatic but cutthroat boss.
According to the official synopsis:
“Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 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.”
Welliver’s return to crime storytelling isn’t surprising. After playing LAPD detective Harry Bosch for seven seasons (and a spinoff), he recently shot a pilot for The Equalizer spinoff on CBS and appeared in the Sundance indie Ricky.
For crime drama fans, especially those who crave a little period grit and street-level power plays, The Westies is shaping up to be one to watch.
Production kicks off in July in Toronto.
Source: Deadline