MGM+ flagship series Godfather of Harlem will end with a two-hour series finale, one The Hollywood Reporter is told will likely air in two parts across as many weeks.
Production will begin this month in New York.
In the finale, Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) “faces the ultimate reckoning as the walls close in around his empire,” the synopsis reads. “With enemies converging from every direction — political, criminal, and personal — Bumpy must draw on every alliance, every sacrifice, and every hard lesson earned across five seasons to protect what he has built and the people he loves.”
Godfather of Harlem also stars Ilfenesh Hadera (She’s Gotta Have It), Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (WeCrashed), Erik LaRay Harvey (Luke Cage, Boardwalk Empire) and Rome Flynn (How to Get Away with Murder, Imperfect Women), among others. Produced by 20th Television, the series is executive produced by co-creator Chris Brancato, Michael Panes, Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, and Markuann Smith. Swizz Beatz serves as executive music producer.
Paul Eckstein (Narcos) created the 20th Television series with Brancato; Eckstein died in 2023.
“Playing Bumpy Johnson has been one of the greatest experiences of my career,” said Whitaker. “This character, this story, and this ensemble have allowed me to explore the complexity of a man caught between ambition, loyalty, and survival. I’m grateful to Michael Wright and MGM+, Chris Brancato, 20th Television, Amazon, the entire creative team, and our extraordinary cast, for five seasons of exceptional collaboration.”
“Forest Whitaker’s portrayal of Bumpy Johnson has been nothing short of extraordinary, and this series has been a defining jewel of MGM+’s original programming slate,” said Wright, global head of MGM+. “We are deeply proud to give Godfather of Harlem, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, the sendoff it deserves — a two-hour finale that honors the ambition, craft, and emotional power the creative team and cast have brought to this series from day one. This is exactly the kind of bold, character-driven storytelling that MGM+ was built to champion.”
“I’m grateful to MGM+, 20th Television, and our talented cast and crew for the opportunity to complete Bumpy Johnson’s extraordinary journey,” said Brancato. “Forest has filled the role with his signature blend of intelligence, ferocity, and gentility, bringing to life the boss who ruled Harlem’s streets for more than two decades.”
