J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver lead MGM+’s violent new crime drama.
MGM+ is putting two powerhouse actors at the center of its next gritty crime drama.
The network has released the official trailer, for The Westies, an upcoming drama series starring Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons and Bosch star Titus Welliver.
The eight-episode series premieres with a special two-episode release on Sunday, July 12, exclusively on MGM+. New episodes will follow weekly.
The series will stream on MGM+ in the U.S., the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia.
J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver Lead MGM+’s New Crime Drama
The biggest draw for The Westies is its lead duo.
J.K. Simmons stars as Eamon Sweeney, bringing his signature intensity to a violent story rooted in power, loyalty, and survival. Simmons is best known to many fans as J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man universe. He also won an Academy Award for his unforgettable performance in Whiplash.
Opposite him is Titus Welliver as Glenn Keenan. Welliver has built a massive fanbase through his work as Harry Bosch in Bosch and Bosch: Legacy. His presence gives the series another strong crime-drama veteran.
Together, Simmons and Welliver give The Westies instant weight. This is not just another gangster series. MGM+ is clearly leaning into character, grit, and old-school tension.
What Is ‘The Westies’ About?
The Westies centers on New York City’s infamous Irish gang of the same name.
The series is set in the early 1980s, when Hell’s Kitchen is on the edge of major change. The construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center brings the promise of a huge financial windfall.
That money also brings danger.
The Westies are badly outnumbered by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia. Even so, their brutal reputation gives them leverage. Their violence and street-level cunning help them hold their own in a fragile peace.
But that peace starts to crack.
A younger, more reckless generation begins to clash with the old-school leadership. That internal power struggle threatens to ignite a larger war. It also pulls the Westies deeper into the FBI’s growing investigation into the Italian Mafia.
A Gangster Story Built Around Power and Betrayal
The trailer sells The Westies as a hard-hitting crime drama with a tense New York backdrop.
The Hell’s Kitchen setting gives the series a raw edge. The Jacob Javits Convention Center storyline adds a sharp reason for the violence to escalate. Everyone wants a piece of what is coming.
That makes the series feel bigger than a simple gang story.
It is about territory. It is about money. It is about old rules being challenged by younger men who want power now.
That conflict could be where The Westies finds its strongest drama.
‘The Westies’ Cast
Along with J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver, the cast includes Tom Brittney as Jimmy Roarke, Stanley Morgan as Mickey Flanagan, Sarah Bolger as Bridget Walsh, and Jessica Frances Dukes as Agent Birdie Polk.
The series also stars Hamish Allan-Headley as John Gotti, Vincent Walsh as Eddie Breen, Allen Leech as Brendan Cahill, and Hillary McCormack as Erin Malone.
Recurring cast members include Aidan Wojtak-Hissong, Jeremy Walmsley, Dylan Taylor, and Rohan Mead.
Why ‘The Westies’ Should Be on Your Watchlist
The Westies have several strong reasons to grab attention.
First, it has J.K. Simmons in a major crime-drama role. That alone gives the series a major hook.
Second, Titus Welliver brings serious genre credibility. Fans of Bosch know how well he fits this kind of tense, dangerous world.
Third, the story has a built-in clash of power. The Westies are facing pressure from the Mafia, the FBI, and their own internal war.
That mix could make the series one of MGM+’s most intense new dramas of the year.
‘The Westies’ Release Date
The Westies premieres Sunday, July 12, on MGM+.
The season will include eight episodes. The first two episodes will debut together. After that, new episodes will be released weekly.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
