Godfather of Harlem ends with a two-hour finale after four seasons at MGM+
“Godfather of Harlem,” MGM+’s crime drama starring Forest Whitaker, concludes with a two-hour finale.
The news comes a year after the series’ fourth season, which premiered on April 13, 2025 and ended on June 22. According to the official logline, this season saw Bumpy Johnson (Witaker) continue “his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s mafia families, while grappling with the arrival of gangster Frank Lucas (Rome Flynn). After the tragic assassination of Malcolm lfenesh Hadera and Erik LaRay Harvey also star.
The description for the finale reads: “Bumpy Johnson faces the ultimate reckoning as the walls close around his empire. With enemies coming together from every direction – political, criminal and personal – Bumpy must draw on every alliance, every sacrifice and every hard lesson he’s earned over five seasons to protect what he’s built and the people he loves. The two-hour conclusion marks the culmination of Bumpy’s extraordinary saga: a man who rose from the streets of Harlem to reshape the power structures of a whole era, and who should now decide what legacy to leave behind.”
Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein created the series, with Bracanto serving as showrunner. Executive producers include Brancato, Whitaker, Michael Panes, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson and Markuann Smith, with Swizz Beatz serving as executive music producer. 20th Television is the studio.
“Playing Bumpy Johnson has been one of the greatest experiences of my career,” Whitaker said in a statement. “This character, story and ensemble have allowed me to explore the complexities of a man caught between ambition, loyalty and survival. I am grateful to Michael Wright and MGM+, Chris Brancato, 20.e Television, Amazon, the entire creative team and our extraordinary cast for five seasons of exceptional collaboration.”
“Forest Whitaker’s portrayal of Bumpy Johnson has been nothing short of extraordinary, and this series, created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein, has been a defining gem of MGM+’s original programming,” said Michael Wright, Global Head of MGM+. “We’re very proud to give ‘Godfather of Harlem’ the broadcast it deserves – a two-hour finale that honors the ambition, craft and emotional power that the creative team and cast have brought to this series from day one. This is exactly the kind of bold, character-driven storytelling MGM+ was built for.”
“I am grateful to MGM+, 20e Television and our talented cast and crew for the opportunity to complete the extraordinary journey of Bumpy Johnson,” said showrunner and co-creator Brancato. “Forest has infused the role with his signature blend of intelligence, cruelty and kindness, bringing to life the boss who ruled the streets of Harlem for more than two decades.”
