Titus Welliver has been cast in an upcoming, gritty crime series that feels like the perfect successor toPeaky Blinders. Actor Titus Welliver has a long career acting in police procedurals, so he has extensive experience in the genre. Still, his best-known role is Harry Bosch in thePrime Video detective showBosch, based on the books by Michael Connelly.
Now,the Satellite Awards-nominated actor is taking on a cop role in a slightly different genre – a gangster crime drama.Welliver and J.K. Simmons are two of the manyactors who will appear in MGM+’sThe Westies.
Though it hasn’t released yet, the upcoming show is basically guaranteed to be the perfect follow-up toPeaky Blinders, the BAFTA-winning show that ran from 2013 to 2022.
The Westies' Period Gangster Story Sounds Like TV’s New Peaky Blinders Replacement
Real Westies Gang Origin Adds Authenticity
Set in the early ‘80s,The Westiesfollows the titular Irish-American gang, who find an opportunity to gain money and power because of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in their home turf of Hell’s Kitchen.This will lead to a conflict between the younger generation of gan members and the leaders who are stuck in their ways.
The upcoming Titus Welliver show will also feature two opposing gangs, The Westies and The Five Families, working together and in conflict, similar to the one between the Peaky Blinders and the New York Mafia in season 4.
From the premise alone,Peaky Blindersfans will likely be intrigued byThe Westies.However, there are also bigger connections, like the Irish roots of the gang. TheShelby family inPeaky Blindershas mixed Irish and Romani roots. Meanwhile, the Westies are comprised of Irish-American immigrants and their descendants.
Additionally, the local police will have personal ties to the mob, likeSam Neill’s Inspector Campbell inPeaky Blindersseason 1. The upcoming Titus Welliver show will also feature two opposing gangs, The Westies and The Five Families, working together and in conflict, similar to the one between the Peaky Blinders and the New York Mafia in season 4.
The Westies & Peaky Blinders Are Both Inspired By Real-Life Gangs
Shared Themes of Loyalty, Violence, Underdog Survival
Sometimes,great gangster showscreate gangs from scratch, instead of drawing from history. However, bothPeaky BlindersandThe Westiesare named after their titular real-life gangs, which will appeal to viewers who enjoy history.The Peaky Blinders operated from the 1880s to the 1920s, starting in Birmingham.
However, the show was only a loose interpretation. For example, thereal-life Peaky Blinders gang didn’t sew razor bladesin their hats, and the events of the story are hit-or-miss for their accuracy.
The Westies are considered one of the most vicious New York City gangs, and their crimes included murder as well as “attempted murder, kidnapping, loan-sharking, extortion, gambling, and drug dealing” (viaThe New York Times).
Meanwhile, the real-life Westies operated in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC, from the mid-1960s to 1988. However, sinceThe Westiesisn’t out yet, it’s unclear how closely the show will follow the true story of the real gang.
