Question, they tie in a lot of inspirational people from our past, you think they going touch on the Boule society and even other crime bosses (Larry Hoover etc) ?
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Godfather of Harlem (Forest Whitaker)discussion
Excellent viewing! 
This coming Sunday is the last episode until next year.
This coming Sunday is the last episode until next year.
Seeing Lucas wear the pimp suit and Bumpy schooled him
One criticism I have of the show is how fast they're zooming through the story. But Bumpy is still feeling the effects of Malcom's assassination which happened in 1965 so I'm assuming the story is now taking place somewhere between 65 and 68. They haven't mentioned ML-KING'S assassination in April 68 which would certainly have an effect on events as well. Also VIETNAM and the drug connect
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That's where Lucas changes the whole game! They need to make a Godfather of Harlem, Part Two, featuring Frank Lucas!
difference of opinionman this the weakest season by far ...
wht u watching ..?...lol
man this the weakest season by far ...
wht u watching ..?...lol
I wouldn't say the weakest, but of all 4, it's not the best season imo.
This season seems rushed imo
I wonder if something happened behind the scenes
I wonder if something happened behind the scenes
makes sense. so it must be late 1966 then. [black panthers started in 66]
vietnam started ratcheting up 65 or so
not that i expect them to stick exactly to real life timelines...they play rap music in the intro and some of the scenes, so i'm not looking for exactness from this series. been a good ride so far though
i think they zoom through the storyline because it's touch and go if they [mgm] will renew every year...been 2 year gaps between seasons, so uncertainty...they should realize that godfather of harlem is what brought a lot of people to that channel
i think this is where it's going. it'll be frank lucas vs nicky barnes, the mob, and the crooked arm of the nypd
rumor according to puff [not that his word will mean much nowadays], but his dad got killed when he was a kid, no way to know for sure. if puff's dad got to any level beyond street dealer, likely he had to be involved with one of the two [nicky barnes being the other] as they were 'the' distro in harlem back then
Well, the timeline is a bit off, but...
Joe Colombo, a New York mafia boss, was shot at a public rally in New York City on June 28, 1971. He was attending the second Italian Unity Day rally sponsored by his own organization, the Italian-American Civil Rights League, when Jerome A. Johnson, a 24-year-old African American man, shot him three times in the head and neck. Johnson was immediately killed by Colombo's bodyguards. Colombo survived the attack but was left paralyzed and died in 1978 as a result of the injuries.
Joe Colombo, a New York mafia boss, was shot at a public rally in New York City on June 28, 1971. He was attending the second Italian Unity Day rally sponsored by his own organization, the Italian-American Civil Rights League, when Jerome A. Johnson, a 24-year-old African American man, shot him three times in the head and neck. Johnson was immediately killed by Colombo's bodyguards. Colombo survived the attack but was left paralyzed and died in 1978 as a result of the injuries.
I read somewhere recently that they were doing a Barnes show.
if bumpy is being forced to sell product again [end of season 4], and it's becoming more obvious that he now trusts frank lucas as his protégé, i still see this ultimately as frank lucas taking over bumpy's organization after 1968 [end of season 5 if we get it],
...under the protection of italian mob boss joe 'joey bananas' bonnano
...against rival mob boss frank luccheese
...who would be the italian connect for duji to nicky barnes's council.
...frank lucas vs nicky barnes.
this franchise can go a long way, if they do it right. they've already played loose with timelines/characters, so it can be done.
the big question: can mgm continue the series? any period piece series costs a LOT of money to make, and rap music notwithstanding, all the sets, etc. are true to life 1960's. will they have the numbers to justify a season 5 [and future seasons with frank lucas]?
time will tell
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same...I can understand if some like this better than other seasons because its getting closer to recent history ,highlighting the black power era that a lot of us know and love..plus introducing more figures that we've know more intimately through depictions in recent pop culture..Afeni shakur, Frank Lucas etc
I'm definitely missing seeing Malcolm and Adam Clayton Powell
Frank rocking the chinchilla so early annoys me...he was always low key as Bumpys driver and even after Bumpys death when he started moving weight...it wasn't until the 1971 Muhammed Ali fight he was uncharacteristically flashy with chinchilla....it ended up blowing up his spot and getting on the Pigs radar
Godfather of Harlem Malcolm X Recast Explained: Why Nigel Thatch Got Replaced
The MGM+ drama changed actors for this major historical figure in Season 3.
By Klein Felt
March 08, 2025
thedirect.com
As audiences prepare for Godfather of Harlem Season 4, fans revisit one of the show's biggest moves in recent years, the recasting of Malcolm X.
For the first two seasons of the hit MGM+ series, Nigél Thatch played the real-life political leader but was recast coming into Season 3, with Jason Alan Carvell taking over the role.
In the upcoming fourth season, due on April 13, Carvell is again set to play Tatch's character, signifying that this change was permanent and Thatch is done with the series.
As for why this change was made, it ultimately came down to scheduling conflicts (as it often does).
In January 2023, series creators Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein revealed why Tatch was not coming back for Season 3, telling Hollywood Life, "The season started about 4 to 5 months later than it was supposed to," and the former Malcolm X actor had "other projects that he had committed to:"
"The season started about 4 to 5 months later than it was supposed to and Nigél had other projects that he had committed to, so we literally were not able to have him available to us."
"We had to do what you never want to have to do," the series creatives admitted about the recast, adding that it was "a minor miracle [they] found an actor" to take on the role:
"We had to do what you never want to have to do, particularly when an actor’s performance has been so brilliant like Nigél’s, is find someone else. Through what I considered a minor miracle we found an actor. The audience is going to take a minute to adjust, but he’s got a lot of gravitas. He’s got a lot of warmth. I think he very capably plays Malcolm. I think the audience at the end of the season is going to say, wow, you guys are really lucky. You’ve gotten two great actors."…
Nigel Thatch (L) and Jason Alan Carvell
The MGM+ drama changed actors for this major historical figure in Season 3.
By Klein Felt
March 08, 2025
Here's Why Nigel Thatch Got Replaced as Malcolm X In 'Godfather of Harlem'
The MGM+ drama changed actors for this major historical figure in Season 3.
thedirect.com
As audiences prepare for Godfather of Harlem Season 4, fans revisit one of the show's biggest moves in recent years, the recasting of Malcolm X.
For the first two seasons of the hit MGM+ series, Nigél Thatch played the real-life political leader but was recast coming into Season 3, with Jason Alan Carvell taking over the role.
In the upcoming fourth season, due on April 13, Carvell is again set to play Tatch's character, signifying that this change was permanent and Thatch is done with the series.
As for why this change was made, it ultimately came down to scheduling conflicts (as it often does).
In January 2023, series creators Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein revealed why Tatch was not coming back for Season 3, telling Hollywood Life, "The season started about 4 to 5 months later than it was supposed to," and the former Malcolm X actor had "other projects that he had committed to:"
"The season started about 4 to 5 months later than it was supposed to and Nigél had other projects that he had committed to, so we literally were not able to have him available to us."
"We had to do what you never want to have to do," the series creatives admitted about the recast, adding that it was "a minor miracle [they] found an actor" to take on the role:
"We had to do what you never want to have to do, particularly when an actor’s performance has been so brilliant like Nigél’s, is find someone else. Through what I considered a minor miracle we found an actor. The audience is going to take a minute to adjust, but he’s got a lot of gravitas. He’s got a lot of warmth. I think he very capably plays Malcolm. I think the audience at the end of the season is going to say, wow, you guys are really lucky. You’ve gotten two great actors."…
Nigel Thatch (L) and Jason Alan Carvell
I love this intro
Watching the final season.
They changed the opening, same music but they added images of the major characters.
no official word on season 5? that was the only thing in my mind justifying getting mgm channel. hope for 1 more season to wrap things up at least. this feels like the same situation with the wire after season 4.
Looks like it hasn't been officially renewed as of yet, but season 4 last aired from April - June 22nd, 2025.
we'll see if mgm comes to their senses. i did observe when the series started that it's very expensive to do period pieces, having everything set in the 1960's definitely will contribute to the decision [$$$] to go with a fifth season
Agreed - and like you said - 1 more season is justified to wrap things up.
Period pieces are definitely challenging. I'm always impressed by how well done they are in so many TV series and movies. No small feat.
‘Godfather of Harlem’ Showrunner Chris Brancato Already Has Plans for Season 5
The co-creator explains the contemporary music choices and hopes to continue the MGM+ series, now in its fourth season, that stars Forest Whitaker as the notorious Ellsworth Raymond “Bumpy” Johnson.
BY DEMETRIUS PATTERSON
MAY 5, 2025
www.hollywoodreporter.com
The co-creator explains the contemporary music choices and hopes to continue the MGM+ series, now in its fourth season, that stars Forest Whitaker as the notorious Ellsworth Raymond “Bumpy” Johnson.
BY DEMETRIUS PATTERSON
MAY 5, 2025
‘Godfather of Harlem’ Showrunner Chris Brancato Already Has Plans for Season 5
The co-creator explains the contemporary music choices and hopes to continue the MGM+ series, now in its fourth season, that stars Forest Whitaker as the notorious Ellsworth Raymond “Bumpy” Johnson.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
There are plans for future spinoffs with series around Lucas, Barnes and other well known NYC Black underworld figures.
It’s looking like Disney/Hulu is trying to copy the success of what 50Cent is doing.
