4 days ago
J.K. Simmons to Lead MGM+ Period Crime Drama THE WESTIES — GeekTyrant
J.K. Simmons is heading back into the dark and dangerous world of crime, this time as the lead in MGM+'s new period drama The Westies , and it sounds like a perfect fit.
Known for playing characters with unshakable presence and intensity in projects like Whiplash , Oz , and Invincible , Simmons will take on the role of Eamon Sweeney, a brutal yet charismatic boss of a Hell's Kitchen crime gang in the early 1980s.
The Westies is co-created by Chris Brancato ( Narcos , Godfather of Harlem ) and Michael Panes, and it drops viewers into a volatile era when the Jacob Javitz Convention Center was rising, and so were the criminal opportunities.
The Irish-American gang known as the Westies might've been dwarfed in size by the Italian mafia, but they compensated with brutality and street smarts, carving out a dangerous slice of Manhattan's underworld.
Simmons' character, Eamon, is described as having "old-school charm and neighborhood loyalty" that barely conceal "fierce criminal ambition and calculated brutality." It sounds like a tailor-made role for an actor who can flip from warmth to menace in a heartbeat.
'J.K. Simmons is one of the finest actors working today,' said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. 'His authenticity and intensity bring an invaluable quality to this complex and exhilarating story, and we can't wait to see him bring this unforgettable character to life.'
Brancato echoed that excitement, adding, 'J.K. Simmons doesn't just play authority — he radiates it. We're lucky to have an actor who brings the gravitas and danger that this world demands.'
Production on the eight-episode series kicks off in July in Toronto. No word yet on a premiere date, but The Westies is shaping up to be a must-watch for fans of gritty, character-driven crime dramas.
Source: Deadline
