First Look | J.K. Simmons Stars in Upcoming MGM+ Crime Drama The Westies
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Phil Roberts 
The highly anticipated crime drama, The Westies, starring J.K. Simmons and created by Narcos’ Chris Brancato, is premiering on 12th July.
Look out, MGM+ fans, because the teaser trailer for its upcoming original crime drama The Westies, set to premiere exclusively on 12th July, has arrived alongside a first look image of lead star J.K. Simmons.
Created and executive produced by Chris Brancato, alongside co-creator Michael Panes, The Westies will be available to stream on MGM+ across the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia. The gritty crime drama promises to be one of the jewels in the streamer’s summer crown, and now, we can finally get our first look. But before we renew our criminal connections, scroll down and watch the trailer below.
THE SERIES
The Westies is a gritty and kinetic crime drama centring on New York City’s infamously violent Irish gang of the same name. The series is set in the early 1980s, when the construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall. 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.
COMING TO MGM+
The eight-episode series marks Brancato’s third collaboration with MGM+, following the success of the critically acclaimed Godfather of Harlem and the Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated Narcos. The series stars J.K. Simmons as Eamonn Sweeney, leading a cast that includes Titus Welliver, Tom Brittney, Stanley Morgan, Sarah Bolger, and Jessica Frances Dukes.
Combining a renowned team of showrunners with an exceptional ensemble cast, The Westies underscores MGM+’s continued commitment to premium, original storytelling and is poised to captivate audiences worldwide upon its July debut.
RELEASE
What a phenomenal first look. The Westies is a shoo-in to shoot straight to the top of our summer watchlist. The unique collaboration of Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, alongside the star power of J.K. Simmons, is an exciting prospect, one that will transport us back to the golden age of organized crime. That, coupled with some spectacular production value, makes The Westies a must-see with all the hallmarks of an instant classic. So, sign us up!
The Westies will unleash the world of organized crime on MGM+ on July 12th.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
