J.K. Simmons will star in the MGM+ crime drama The Westies.
Deadline reports that Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, known for his role in Whiplash and his disdain for Spider-Man, has been cast as the lead in The Westies, a crime drama from co-creators Christ Brancato and Michael Panes for MGM+.
The Westies is set in the early 1980s, during the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in Hell’s Kitchen, which promises lucrative opportunities for the Irish-American organized crime group known as the Westies. Despite being significantly outmatched by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies have used their notorious brutality and shrewdness to negotiate a precarious peace for sharing profits. However, rising tensions between the bold younger members and the traditional leadership could ignite conflict, drawing the Westies deeper into the FBI's ongoing investigation of the Italian mafia.
Simmons will portray Eamon Sweeney, the charming yet ruthless leader of The Westies, whose old-fashioned appeal and commitment to his community conceal his keen criminal ambitions and calculated violence.
Simmons has enjoyed a lengthy career with a variety of roles in drama, comedy, and more. He is best known for his portrayal of Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, where his character's animosity towards Spider-Man leads to numerous negative articles about him. His popularity in this role was so significant that Marvel Studios reinstated him as Jameson for Spider-Man: No Way Home. Another prominent role of his is as the harsh and abusive music instructor Terence Fletcher in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash, for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor.
“J.K. Simmons doesn’t merely portray authority; he embodies it,” said Brancato. “We are fortunate to have an actor who brings the gravitas and menace that this narrative necessitates.”
“J.K. Simmons is among the finest actors today,” remarked MGM+ head Michael Wright. “His authenticity and intensity add immense value to this intricate and thrilling story, and we are eager to see him bring this remarkable character to life.”
Brancato is known for creating notable series such as Narcos, Godfather of Harlem, and Hotel Cocaine. He will serve as executive producer and showrunner for The Westies, with production expected to commence in July in Toronto.
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J.K. Simmons will star in the MGM+ crime drama The Westies.
Deadline announces that J.K. Simmons, the Oscar-winning star of Whiplash and known for his disdain for Spider-Man, has been chosen to star in The Westies, a crime drama created by Christ Brancato and Michael Panes for MGM+. The Westies is situated in the early 1980s and revolves around the construction of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in Hell’s Kitchen, which is the home territory of the Westies, promising […]