True Story Crime Drama On Hulu Showcases Highs And Lows Of Real American Gangsters
These days, television crime dramas are some of the most revered properties in the entire Hollywood industry, with projects such as Breaking Bad, Ozark, and Barry racking up critical praise, awards, and a wide array of massive on-screen talent. One such project that has been making the rounds lately is the Epix original series Godfather of Harlem, which is currently streaming on Hulu. The series, which has run three explosive seasons thus far, is currently undergoing production on a fourth season, which is expected to arrive sometime in 2025.
Based On A True Story
Godfather of Harlem was originally created and developed for television by Narcos creator Chris Brancato and his associate producer Paul Eckstein. Together, along with series executive producer and star Forest Whitaker, the duo set out to explore the true tales of American crime lord Ellsworth Raymond “Bumpy” Johnson and his expansive criminal enterprise.
While the final product offers a number of creative liberties to the real story, the general outline follows Johnson’s actual rise and fall through the criminal underworld of Harlem, where he ruled as one of the first African Americans to coexist with the Italian mob.
The Fight For Harlem
As the narrative of Godfather of Harlem unfolds, Bumpy and his crew gain control of Harlem, while meeting with real historical figures along the way, including the likes of Malcolm X, Frank Costello, Joseph Bonanno, and Elijah Muhammad.
While the series primarily focuses on Johnson’s crew, it also serves as a snapshot into American history and the politics of the 1960s. Controversial Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara even shows up in the third season of the series, driving home just how much political power and impact these criminal enterprises held in their heyday.
A Must-Watch For Crime Fans
Critics and audiences alike have been flocking to Godfather of Harlem since its release, resulting in a near-perfect 92 percent certified fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Personally, I find the series to be endlessly enjoyable and incredibly fascinating, and I consider it to be the spiritual successor of similar organized crime classics like The Sopranos or Boardwalk Empire.
Forest Whitaker is the clear stand-out performer in Godfather of Harlem, though the series also touts incredible performances from Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry, Erik LaRay Harvey, Elvis Nolasco, Vincent D’Onofrio, Paul Sorvino, and Breaking Bad‘s Giancarlo Esposito.
An American Gangster Prequel?
While nobody knows for sure what will unfold in Godfather of Harlem‘s fourth season and beyond, the series is also said to be a spiritual prequel to the classic 2007 film American Gangster, starring Denzel Washington.
American Gangster follows the true story of Bumpy Johnson’s successor Frank Lucas, as he fills in the power vacuum eventually left behind with Bump’s death in 1968. As such, many fans assume that the series will eventually introduce the character of Frank Lucas in some capacity, or perhaps even invoke a cameo appearance from Denzel Washington himself.
Three Seasons Streaming On Hulu
REVIEW SCORE
If you’re interested in catching up with the first three seasons of Godfather of Harlem, now seems like the perfect time to stream the series on Hulu. The fourth season currently has no release date, though inside sources seem to indicate a Spring or Summer 2025 release window.
