Epix Renews ‘Godfather of Harlem’ for Season 2

Forest Whitaker returns as Bumpy Johnson later this year

Godfather of Harlem
Epix

Epix has renewed “Godfather of Harlem” for a second season. Forest Whitaker executive produces and stars as Bumpy Johnson on the ABC Signature Studios series.

The 10-episode sophomore season, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, will begin production in New York later this year.

“‘Godfather of Harlem’ season one was a remarkable success, tripling previous viewership numbers for the network and earning acclaim from both critics and viewers alike,” said Michael Wright, president of Epix.  “We couldn’t wait to reunite with Chris, Paul, Forest and the team at ABC Signature to continue telling this compelling and extremely relevant story.”

“Godfather of Harlem” tells a story inspired by crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from 11 years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. With the streets controlled by the Italian mob, Bumpy must take on the Genovese crime family to regain control, the logline reads. During the brutal battle, he forms an alliance with radical preacher Malcolm X – catching Malcolm’s political rise in the crosshairs of social upheaval and a mob war that threatens to tear the city apart. “Godfather of Harlem” is a collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history.

Season 1 also starred Vincent D’Onofrio, Ilfenesh Hadera, Nigél Thatch, Giancarlo Esposito, Lucy Fry, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Rafi Gavron and Antoinette Crowe-Legacy.

In addition to showrunner Brancato and executive producers Eckstein and Whitaker, “Godfather of Harlem” is executive produced by Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, Markuann Smith and Joe Chappelle. Swizz Beatz is executive music producer.

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