MGM+ has revealed new details about an upcoming crime drama featuring a major television star, with its release now officially scheduled. The network will release the series this summer as part of its expanding slate of originals, with J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver leading the cast.
The Westies sets release date at MGM+
MGM+ has set the release date for The Westies, confirming that the crime drama will premiere on July 12. The announcement was shared via social media, stating, “On July 12th, a legendary Irish-American gang in NYC will show you how far they’re willing to go to win it all.” The post also noted that “#TheWesties is coming soon to #MGMplus.”
Chris Brancato and Michael Panes co-created the series, which follows a notorious Irish-American gang operating in New York City. MGM+ formally announced the project in March 2025 and assembled a cast including J.K. Simmons, Titus Welliver, Tom Brittney, and Jessica Frances Dukes. Set in the early 1980s, the show explores events tied to the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in Hell’s Kitchen.
The official promotional message also stated, “This St. Patrick’s Day, get ready to meet a group of unforgettable Irishmen in this new crime series about NYC’s most feared gang.” The narrative focuses on a period when the Westies navigate a fragile arrangement with the Italian Mafia’s Five Families while seeking financial gain from developments in their territory.
Character information shows that J.K. Simmons takes on the role of Eamon Sweeney, the calculating and dominant leader of the Westies. Titus Welliver plays Glenn Keenan, an NYPD officer with a troubled past connected to the gang, while Tom Brittney portrays James “Jimmy” Roarke and Jessica Frances Dukes appears as FBI agent Birdie Polk.
MGM+ will release the series across multiple regions, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia. Fifth Season handles global rights, while Brancato continues his collaboration with MGM+ after working on Godfather of Harlem and Hotel Cocaine.
