Chris Brancato, the co-creator of the hit series Narcos, is to tell the story of New York's Irish-American crime gang The Westies in a 1980s-set series for cable network MGM+ in the US.
US entertainment trade publication Variety says the eight-episode series "takes place during the construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center on The Westies' home turf in Hell's Kitchen, which promises a financial windfall".
"Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by The Five Families of the Italian Mafia, The Westies' legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente," the synopsis continues.
"But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep The Westies into the FBI's ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia."
Brancato co-created the series with his Godfather of Harlem and Hotel Cocaine colleague Michael Panes. Both will serve as executive producers with Brancato also the showrunner. Filming is due to begin on The Westies in Toronto in July.
"The Westies has been a passion project of mine, and I can't wait to bring it to life," said Brancato. "This is a story about ambition, loyalty, and power, set against the backdrop of 1980s New York."
