If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.
The Westies release date: JK Simmons takes on New York's Javits Center in MGM+ series
JK Simmons stars in a crime drama about New York's Irish American organized crime gang, The Westies, on MGM+
Popverse's top stories
- Image Comics is pulling all new comics from GlobalComix after 3-year partnership changes
- What is taking Beyond the Spider-Verse so long? The need to do something new
- Todd McFarlane wants to give Spawn the Absolute Batman treatment... and already has a name for it
Pop culture fans may gather each October at New York City's Javits Center for New York Comic Con, but in the 1980s, when the convention center was being built, it was a much different story. MGM+'s new crime drama show, The Westies, will take us all behind the scenes of the Javits Center's construction and the effects that it had on organized crime in Hell's Kitchen. Just don't expect to see Daredevil running around.
The Westies release date July 12, 2026 on MGM+. The show makes its streaming debut with a 2-episode premiere, giving you an extra dose of JK Simmons. Everyone wins!
Of course, it wouldn't be a story about New York's organized crime world without some conflicts with the Five Families of the Italian mafia. And part of the plot of The Westies revolves around the gang getting swept up in the FBI's investigation into the mafia.
While The Westies is set in Hell's Kitchen in the early 80s, the show was actually shot in Toronto. In an interview with Deadline, series co-creator Chris Brancato assured us that the show would still feel authentic. Brancato said, "I was around in New York City in the 80s, so I remember it vividly. The challenge for the show was, how do you replicate 1980 New York City when you’re shooting in Toronto? What we determined was that it was going to be very difficult to shoot on the streets of Toronto and have it look anything like 1980 New York, so we built a 240-foot New York street that is absolutely authentic to the era. We built that exterior at our stages, so we film a lot of the show out on a big outdoor set."
We'll see how it all comes together.
The Westies will be released on July 12, 2026 on MGM+.
Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out Popverse's guides to:
Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news
Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy
Let Popverse be your tour guide through the wilderness of pop culture
Sign in and let us help you find your new favorite thing.
Comments
Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.