Forest Whitaker returns to a life of crime in Godfather of Harlem teaser

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Forest Whitaker will be turning to a life of crime in Godfather of Harlem, an upcoming Epix series inspired by the true events surrounding infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson. After returning to his old neighbourhood in the early 1960s following ten years in prison, Johnson finds it in shambles with the streets now 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." In addition to Whitaker, Godfather of Harlem also stars Vincent D'Onofrio, Ilfenesh Hadera, Nigel Thatch, Paul Sorvino, and Giancarlo Esposito.

With the civil rights movement in full swing, Godfather of Harlem will see the changes of the world through Johnson's eyes. "The combination of looking at the criminal world and the intersection with the civil rights movement and the politics of the day is really interesting," said Whitaker while speaking with Entertainment Weekly last year. "Bumpy’s starting to understand those things and how to stake claim to what he thinks are his rights to survive."

Godfather of Harlem will debut on Epix on September 29, 2019.