The Westies: MGM+ crime drama locks its main cast with the addition of four new faces

Hell’s Kitchen in the early ‘80s wasn’t just a neighborhood; it was a pressure cooker. And MGM+ is ready to lift the lid.

As filming intensifies for The Westies, the network’s new crime drama centered around the infamous Irish-American gang, four new names have now officially joined the series as main players. While the show already features an ensemble of seasoned actors, including J.K. Simmons, Titus Welliver, and Sarah Bolger, this new wave of casting sharpens the edge of a drama that’s already drawing comparisons to Peaky Blinders but with more street grit and less velvet.

The series draws from true events, following a brutal crew navigating a fragile criminal détente as the Jacob Javits Convention Center rises like a goldmine in the middle of their blood-streaked turf. With internal power struggles and the FBI looming in the wings, every ally could be a threat and every enemy, a stepping stone.

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Four new characters join the West Side war in The Westies, each more dangerous than the last

While the streets may run red, the cast list is now solidly black and bold. The latest additions promise not just new faces, but key figures who will tip the scales of power.

Brendan Cahill, a calculating leader of an IRA cell, will be played by Allen Leech. If his name rings a bell, it might be from his stint as Tom Branson in Downton Abbey, but here, he ditches the moral compass. As Cahill, he’s the kind of man who sizes up relationships like assets on a balance sheet and every handshake is weighed against the potential for betrayal.

John Gotti, yes, that John Gotti, is being portrayed by Hamish Allan-Headley. He was last seen as a shifty prison gang member in Mayor of Kingstown and previously stirred chaos as Powell in Daredevil: Born Again. Now he steps into the shoes of the rising Gambino capo, one who’s far from content playing second fiddle to Paul Castellano.

Eddie Breen, the Westies’ top enforcer and loyal consigliere, comes to life through Vincent Walsh. You might remember him as one of the outlaws in Billy the Kid on MGM+, but here, he’s the cleaner, the fixer, and the man you call when someone needs to vanish permanently.

Erin Malone, a sharp-tongued street hustler with a knack for survival, is being portrayed by Hilary McCormack. She previously played a grieving survivor in Earth Abides, but as Erin, she’s far more proactive. Quick with a con and quicker with a comeback, her character earns the confidence and possibly more of young mobster Mickey Flanagan.

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Power struggles, fresh faces, and what comes next

With this casting round, The Westies tightens its grip on the genre. What sets it apart is not just the setting or the real-life inspiration, but the raw interpersonal volatility with old-school leaders trying to cling to control while a younger, bolder generation eyes the crown.

Behind the scenes, the show is in the hands of Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, with Brancato doubling as showrunner. Known for his work on Narcos and Godfather of Harlem, Brancato brings a no-nonsense tone and high-stakes pacing that fans of prestige crime dramas will immediately recognize.

There’s still no official release date, but with production in full swing and the central cast now locked, expect MGM+ to roll The Westies out with full mob muscle. Until then, the newly fortified cast list offers a taste of the mayhem to come: one backroom deal, one bloody handshake, and one vanishing act at a time.

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Why The Westies is the crime drama that might just muscle in on the top spot

Forget the brooding antiheroes and slow-burn noir you're used to. The Westies is poised to deliver kinetic violence, political undertones, and characters so layered you’ll need a drink (or three) to process them.

If Boardwalk Empire and Peaky Blinders had a meaner, sharper cousin who grew up on Guinness and gangland warfare, this would be it. And with the cast now locked and loaded, all that's left is to watch the bodies and the secrets pile up.

The streets of Hell’s Kitchen are calling. You might want to answer before The Westies do.