The MGM+ crime drama “The Godfather of Harlem,” starring Forest Whitaker, concludes with a two-hour finale.
The news comes one year after the series’ fourth season, which premiered on April 13, 2025 and ended on June 22. According to the official logline, the season will see Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker) “continuing a bloody war for control of Harlem with New York’s mafia families, while battling the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn). After the tragic assassination of Ason Alan Carvel), Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antionette Crowe-Legacy) involvement in Black Panther.” Rufenesh Hadera and Eric LaRay Harvey also star.
The finale’s description reads: “As walls close in around the Empire, Bumpy Johnson faces the ultimate reckoning. As enemies gather from all directions – political, criminal and personal – Bumpy must make every alliance, every sacrifice, and sacrifice he has made over five seasons to protect what he has built and the people he loves. The two-hour conclusion tells the climax of Bumpy’s extraordinary story: a man who rises from the streets of Harlem to reshape the power structure.”Looking at the era as a whole, who must now decide what kind of legacy he will leave behind? ”
Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein created the series, with Bracanto serving as showrunner. Executive producers include Brancato, Whittaker, Michael Paynes, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, and Marquan Smith, with Swizz Beatz serving as executive music producer. TV number 20 is the studio.
“Playing Bumpy Johnson was one of the best experiences of my career,” Whitaker said in a statement. “This character, this story, and this ensemble have allowed me to explore the complexities of a man caught between ambition, loyalty, and survival. I’m grateful to Michael Wright and MGM+, Chris Brancato, 20th Television, Amazon, the entire creative team, and our incredible cast for their incredible collaboration over five seasons.”
“Forest Whitaker’s portrayal of Bumpy Johnson is extraordinary, and the series, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, is a defining jewel in MGM+’s original programming slate,” said Michael Wright, global head of MGM+. “We are incredibly proud to give ‘The Godfather of Harlem’ the sendoff it deserves, with a two-hour finale that celebrates the ambition, craft and emotional power that the creative team and cast brought to this series from day one. This is exactly the type of bold, character-driven storytelling that MGM+ was built to champion.”
“We are grateful to MGM+, 20th Television, and our talented cast and crew for the opportunity to complete Bumpy Johnson’s extraordinary journey,” said showrunner and co-creator Brancato. “Forrest played this role with his signature blend of intelligence, ferocity, and kindness, bringing to life the boss who ruled the streets of Harlem for more than 20 years.”
