We are thrilled that filming has safely resumed and that our soundstages and locations are busy with cast and crews working on new episodes of your favorite shows. One of our favorites returns on Sunday, April 18, EPIX’s “Godfather of Harlem” starring Forest Whitaker as legendary crime boss Bumpy Johnson.

Ellsworth Raymond “Bumpy” Johnson ruled over Harlem in the early 20th century. He was an associate of Charles “Lucky” Luciano, who founded the syndicate that became known as the Genovese crime family. “Godfather of Harlem” focuses on Johnson’s life in the early 1960s following his release from Alcatraz after a decade behind bars.

In the first season, Bumpy formed an alliance with Malcolm X (Nigél Thatch) to battle the mobster Vincent “Chin” Gigante (Vincent D’Onofrio), who took over his territory while he was in prison. Season two will focus on the infamous “French Connection,” the pipeline through which smugglers brought in heroin from Marseilles to New York in the mid-20th century.

“Godfather of Harlem,” created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, also stars Giancarlo Esposito as pastor-turned-politician Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who represented Harlem in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than two decades. Paul Sorvino and Chazz Palminteri appear in recurring roles as legendary mobsters Frank Costello and Joe Bonanno.

Joining the cast in season two is Annabella Sciorra as Bonnano’s wife Fay. Justin Bartha will also appear as U.S. District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, and Ronald Guttman will portray Jean Jehan, a Frenchman involved in the heroin trade. There will also be several exciting guest stars, including Method Man as Philadelphia crime boss Sam Christian.

The first season was nominated for several NAACP Image Awards in 2020, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for Whitaker, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Esposito. We are proud that our studios in Queens and Brooklyn played host to filming of this critically acclaimed series and look forward to future collaborations with the cast and crew.

Trailer: “Godfather of Harlem” Season Two