Sunday (January 15) the Epix premium service officially changes its name to MGM Plus as it looks to combine its lineup of original series with the fabled MGM brand of classic movies.

MGM Plus President Michael Wright recently told Multichannel News that the rebrand -- part of Amazon’s acquisition of MGM -- will help bring more awareness to the network’s slate of programming, which includes such originals as Godfather of Harlem, FROM, A Spy Among Friends, Murf the Surf, Rogue Heroes and Billy the Kid.

“The MGM brand is meaningful to consumers,” Wright said. “It’s been very consistent in offering high production value, great talent and entertainment content to a sophisticated audience. We’re offering movies and original series that speak to that audience as we celebrate a brand that people know.”

Also: MGM Plus Renews ‘Rogue Heroes,’ ‘Billy the Kid’ Series as It Preps for Rebrand: TCA

Click below to watch more of the interview with Michael Wright in a new MCN Originals Videos segment. ■

PASADENA, CALIF. — Epix heads into its January 15 rebranding launch to MGM Plus with a lineup of new and returning series — including freshman shows Rogue Heroes and Billy the Kid — that it hopes will attract audiences to the premium channel.

“The opportunity to build a platform on the MGM name is a gift,” MGM Plus president Michael Wright said Tuesday during the network’s Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour session. “MGM Plus embraces and extends that brand.”

The network, which last year was acquired by Amazon when it bought MGM for $8.45 billion, will officially relaunch with the third-season premiere of the Forest Whitaker starrer Godfather of Harlem, executives said. MGM Plus also announced an April 23 premiere date for the second season of its sci-fi horror series FROM.

The network also announced second-season renewals for drama Rogue Heroes and adventure series Billy The Kid.

New drama series include A Spy Among Friends, starring Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce, which will debut March 12; as well as true-crime docuseries Murf the Surf, which debuts February 5, the network said. 

MGM Plus’s development slate includes scripted series based on the 1997 movie Hoodlum, as well as the apocalyptic-themed series Ark. Below is MGM Plus’ announced development slate with network descriptions:

The Emperor of Ocean Park (scripted) — From John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. Television, The Emperor of Ocean Park is a thrilling, suspenseful take on Stephen L. Carter’s best-selling novel. Set in the worlds of D.C. politics, Ivy League academia, and the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, the series centers on Talcott Garland’s quiet life as an Ivy League law professor whose world is shattered when his father, Judge Oliver Garland, dies of an apparent heart attack. The nature of the judge’s death is questioned by Tal’s sister, Mariah, a former journalist and constant conspiracy theorist, who believes that the judge, a former failed Black nominee to the Supreme Court, met with foul play. Sherman Payne is the writer, with Damian Marcano attached to direct.

Hoodlum (scripted) — Based on the 1997 MGM film written by Chris Brancato, this drama series set in the 1930s follows the true story of Harlem numbers queen Stephanie St. Clair’s rise to prominence and mentorship of Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson. MGM Plus Studios is developing, and Brancato and Monica Macer are co-creating and executive producing.

Earth Abides (scripted) — When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into barbarism … or extinction. Based on the novel by George R. Stewart, which is published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, MGM Plus Studios is developing with Michael Phillips, Juliana Maio, and Kearie Peak attached as executive producers.

American Classic (scripted) — American Classic is a half-hour comedy about a man desperately trying to save himself, his family and his hometown in the only way he knows how — by putting on a show. Broadway star and notorious narcissist Richard Bean (Kevin Kline) suffers a spectacular public meltdown and decides to return home to the family-run theater where he first became aware of his own brilliance. When he arrives, he’s shocked to find that his brother (Jon Tenney), and his brother’s wife (who also happens to be his former lover), have turned his temple of art into a dinner theater — with the emphasis on dinner. To make matters worse, his hometown of Millersberg is teetering on the edge of economic disaster. Inspired, Richard vows to put on a show so great that it will save the theatre, the town and, most importantly, his career. But with the family and town in chaos, the constant threat of financial ruin, and Richard’s enormous ego, will they even make it to opening night? Michael Hoffman, Bob Martin, Leslie Urdang, Kline, Anthony Bregman and Miriam Mintz are attached as executive producers. American Classic is being developed as a co-production between MGM Plus Studios and Anonymous Content’s AC Studios.

Ark (scripted) — It’s 2030, the oceans have risen rapidly, and soon, the entire planet will be submerged. But the discovery of another life-sustaining planet light years away gives hope to those who remain alive. Only a few will be able to make the generations-long journey, and those who don’t make the cut face a watery death. Based on the books by Stephen Baxter, the series is in development as a co-production between MGM Plus Studios and Anonymous Content’s AC Studios.

Hollywood Black — Based on the book by historian Donald Bogle, this four-part docuseries tells the epic story of the actors, writers, directors and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the camera, on the screen, and in the credits. It is a definitive chronicle of a century of the Black experience in Hollywood and a powerful reexamination of a quintessentially American story — in brilliant color. Culture Machine’s Justin Simien (Dear White People, Bad Hair) and Kyle Laursen, Significant Productions’s Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi (Godfather of Harlem), and RadicalMedia’s Dave Sirulnick, Stacey Reiss and Jon Kamen (Summer of Soul) will all serve as executive producers. Simien and Jeffrey Schwartz (Tab Hunter Confidential, I Am Divine) are set to direct. 

Hot Stuff (docuseries) — Mention the word “disco” to most people and it brings back memories of a plastic music fad, the movie Saturday Night Fever, and the infamous NYC club Studio 54. Yet there is so much more to the story. Hot Stuff is a four-part docuseries that dives into what was nothing less than a liberation movement. From its birth in underground gay clubs, where DJs broke new music on their twin turntables, disco, with its infectious 4/4 beat and powerful basslines, exploded on the scene. From rampant hedonism to rule-breaking fashion, to a bevy of divas with luscious vocals, disco marked a transformation in the look and sound of a society ready for change. Was disco the forgettable fast food of pop music, or was it a cultural revolution that still resonates today? Oscar-nominated documentary studio XTR (They Call Me Magic) will be producing the series, while David Friendly and Lesley Chilcott are attached as executive producers.

The Devil Within (docuseries) — This four-part, true-crime docuseries is based on the hit Cavalry Audio podcast The Devil Within, which follows the mysterious murder of Betty Ann Sullivan during the height of the Satanic Panic. Filled with twists, turns and iconic legends, the series fuses true crime with horror. Simply put, what started as a dark, small-town murder investigation quickly spiraled into a paranormal mystery. Executive produced by Eli Roth with executive producers Dirk Hoogstra and Nicole Sorrenti for Half Yard Productions, a North Road Co.

Wonderland Murders & the Secret History of Hollywood (docuseries) — When best-selling crime novelist Michael Connelly discovered that Scott Thorson, best known as Liberace’s lover and author of the tell-all Behind the Candelabra, held the keys to the infamous Wonderland Murders, he only had one problem: Thorson’s stories sounded too unbelievable to be true. As the stories got weirder and wilder, and Thorson’s own “nine lives” stretched beyond the Wonderland Murders themselves, Connelly struggled with how far to follow this unreliable narrator. Connelly (Lincoln Lawyer, Bosch, Bosch: Legacy) executive produces the four-episode documentary series alongside Jen Casey and Nick Gilhool for Miziker Content; Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for The Intellectual Property Corp. (IPC), a part of Sony Pictures Television; and Rick Jackson. Alison Ellwood (The Go-Go’s, How to Change Your Mind, Laurel Canyon) will direct as well as executive produce. ■

Epix – soon to be renamed MGM Plus – will bring back its Emmy-winning original series Godfather Of Harlem for its third season on January 15.

The series stars Forest Whitaker as infamous1960’s crime boss Bumpy Johnson, who looks to reclaim his control of Harlem’s underworld after a stint in jail. The third season continues Johnson’s quest as he battles with other aspirants to the throne, namely the Cuban Mafia from neighboring Spanish Harlem, according to the network.

The second season of the series in 2021 was Epix’s best performing season of all time, with the season two finale finishing as the network’s most watched finale episode ever, according to Epix. 

Along with Whitaker, Godfather of Harlem stars Vincent D’Onofrio, Giancarlo Esposito, Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry and Antoinette Crowe-Legacy. Whitaker serves as executive producer for the series along with Chris Brancato, Paul Eckstein, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, Markuann Smith and Joe Chappelle.■

Epix will bring back its sci-fi horror series From for a second season, the network announced April 24.

The series, which follows mysterious events inside a town that traps all those who enter, will begin production of its 10-episode second season this summer, with an expected return to the network in 2023, Epix said. 

The first season of From debuted Feb. 20 as the premium channel’s most viewed original series premiere ever, and finished as the second most-watched original series behind Godfather of Harlem.

“The first season of From mystified, enthralled, and terrified fans and critics alike with its haunting world, vivid characters and thrilling scares,” said Epix president Michael Wright in a statement. “We have been delighted by the social conversation generated by the From community and can’t wait to unravel more of this mysterious story with our passionate fans in season two.”

From stars Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, Hannah Cheramy, Simon Webster, Ricky He, Chloe Van Landschoot, Corteon Moore, Pegah Ghafoori, David Alpay, Elizabeth Saunders, Elizabeth Moy and Avery Konrad.

From is executive produced by John Griffin, Jack Bender, Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Scott Rosenberg, Anthony and Joe Russo, Mike Larocca and Lindsay Dunn. ■  

Epix is in development on second seasons for its original series Chapelwaite and Domina and has greenlit a new documentary series Women Who Rock as part of a robust list of new and returning series announced Thursday (February 3) at the premium programmer's TCA Winter Press Tour virtual presentation. 

The premium service said it is developing a second season of Chapelwaite, based on Stephen King’s short story Jerusalem’s Lot, which chronicles a family’s battle with an ancient and persistent evil. Also in development is a second season of Domina, which chronicles the struggle for control of the Roman Empire in the wake of Caesar’s death from a rare female perspective. 

New series include Women Who Rock, a four-part docuseries that pays homage to the legion of female pioneers in music; and The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders, a four-part docuseries based on what the network says is the world’s most famous scary story, The Amityville Horror. 

On the sports front, the network will bring back its docuseries NFL Icons, which will profile pro football’s icons and Hall of Fame players, coaches and changemakers. Season two will feature profiles of Walter Payton, Troy Aikman, Jimmy Johnson and Cris Carter. 

The announcement of Epix’s new and returning shows comes on the heels of the network’s February 20 debut of horror series From, the April 24 premiere of Billy the Kid and the third-season renewal of Godfather of Harlem. 

“I am incredibly proud of the premium programming that Epix continues to produce,” Epix president Michael Wright said. “Women Who Rock, The Amityville Murders and and the second season of NFL Icons follow in the footsteps of acclaimed docuseries like Laurel Canyon, Punk and Mr. A and Mr. M: The History of A&M Records, and they exemplify our brand promise to make prestigious and thought-provoking programming with the best storytellers in the industry.”

Epix’s development slate, along with network-provided show descriptions, includes:  

Hotel Cocaine

Blue skies and bikinis. Sex and sand. Bullets and blow. This is the story of Roman Compte, Cuban exile, CIA operative and general manager of the Hotel Mutiny, the glamorous epicenter of the late '70s, early '80s Miami cocaine scene. The Hotel Mutiny was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant, and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians — particularly the up-and-coming Latin acts who came from South America with their instruments and four kilos of cocaine in their suitcases, and Compte was at the center, doing his best to keep it all going and fulfill his own American Dream. Epix Studios is developing, with Chris Brancato (Narcos, Godfather of Harlem) attached as writer/executive producer. 

Black Harvest 

Paris, 1952: A popular and provocative Black American author and his equally-talented but as-yet-unpublished girlfriend arrive with plans to attend the Pan African conference and to get a break from American racism, only to find themselves in the middle of a series of abductions and murders of black men. What at first appear to be casualties of the drug-drenched underground jazz scene end up being a part of something much larger with potentially global consequences in this stylish noir. Epix Studios is developing, with Carl Franklin and Ben Donald attached as executive producers. 

American Classic 

In this half-hour comedy, Broadway star and notorious narcissist Richard Bean (Kevin Kline) suffers a spectacular public meltdown, and returns to his tiny hometown and the family-run theater where he first became aware of his own brilliance. When he arrives, he is shocked to discover that his father, the former artistic director has slipped into a puppet-filled dementia, and that the once-respected theater run by his brother (Jon Tenney) and his wife (now the town’s mayor) has become, by necessity, a low-rent dinner theater serving roast beef and murder mysteries. He decides to save the town, the theater and the world by presenting a great American classic on the dinner theater stage, directed by and starring, of course, himself.  Michael Hoffman, Bob Martin, Leslie Urdang, Kevin Kline, Anthony Bregman and Miriam Mintz are attached as executive producers. American Classic is being developed as a co-production between Epix Studios and Anonymous Content’s AC Studios.

Condor Season Three

Settled into his role as a CIA case officer abroad, Joe Turner has become a foot soldier in the Agency’s Cold War against China for Africa’s substantial natural resources. But when conflict erupts in his own little corner of the continent, Joe has to prevent the proxy war from turning into World War III, even at the cost of what’s left of his soul. Condor season two was executive-produced by Jason Smilovic, Todd Katzberg, Andrew McCarthy, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Bill Bost, Shane Elrod and Brian Walsh, John Weber and Frank Siracusa. The series is a co-production by lead studios MGM Television and Skydance Television, in association with Paramount Television.

Tails of a London Dog-Walker

A half-hour comedy-drama based on the memoir London’s Number One Dog Walking Agency by Kate MacDougall. Amélie meets Bridget Jones by way of New Girl … with dogs. We follow Kate, dog-walker extraordinaire, through her magical world of perfect (and not so perfect) pooches and disastrous dates, all the while discovering who she really is. Ella Greenhill, Emma Frost, Matthew Graham and Anne Thomopoulos will serve as executive producers, with MacDougall as associate producer. Frost and Graham’s U.K.-based independent production company Watford & Essex, a joint venture with Legendary Entertainment, will produce in association with Epix Studios.

Sessions

The docuseries music fans have long been waiting for — a definitive portrait of the artist from the artists’ perspective, examining their story in their own words and songs. Combining the most effective and evocative aspects of such shows as MTV Unplugged, Austin City Limits and Behind the Music, Sessions will provide a front-row seat to an amazing concert. This four-part series will also weave behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and archival material transporting us back and forth in time, experiencing the artists’ careers then and now, capturing their continued relevance and the indelible mark they have made on global culture. Sutter Road Picture Company, in association with The Kennedy/Marshall Company, is attached as the production company, as are Frank Marshall (Laurel Canyon, Mr. A & Mr. M: The Story of A&M Records), Guss Wenner and Jason Fine (Rolling Stone), and Alison Ellwood (Laurel Canyon) as executive producers. Alison Ellwood is also attached to direct. 

Hollywood Black  

Based on the book by historian Donald Bogle, this four-part docuseries will be the definitive chronicle and re-examination of a century of the black experience in Hollywood.  From blackface to Black Power, we’ll tell the epic story of the actors, writers, directors and producers who fought for their place on the screen.  This groundbreaking series on Black Hollywood is the definitive account of the black experience on screen —as vital and essential as Ken Burns’ Jazz and Eyes on the Prize. Justin Simien (Dear White People), Forest Whitaker (Godfather of Harlem) and Nina Yang Bongiovi (Godfather of Harlem) are attached as executive producers. Donald Bogle is attached as a consulting producer. Jesse Collins Entertainment is attached as the production company. 

San Francisco Sounds (working title)

From the team behind the three-time Emmy nominated documentary Laurel Canyon, comes San Francisco Sounds, a two-part documentary series that captures the spirit of the San Francisco music scene from 1966 to 1976, where a new progressive sound embracing the psychedelic and protest movements emerging from the Bay Area was born. Framed by four of the most seminal music events in history, Monterey Pop, Altamont, Woodstock and The Last Waltz, the series is anticipated to include artists such as The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Santana, Moby Grape, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding and Steve Miller. Frank Marshall (Laurel Canyon, Mr. A & Mr. M: The Story of A&M Records), Jeff Pollack, Alex Gibney, Darryl Frank (Laurel Canyon, The Americans) and Justin Falvey (Laurel Canyon, The Americans), and Alison Ellwood (Laurel Canyon) are attached as executive producers. Alison Ellwood is also attached to direct. Jigsaw Productions is producing in association with Amblin Television and The Kennedy/Marshall Company. ■ 

Epix has given a greenlight to a third season of its drama series Godfather of Harlem, starring Forest Whitaker, the network said Thursday.

The third season of the series, in which Whitaker plays infamous 1960s crime boss Bumpy Johnson as he continues to battle for control of Harlem, will begin production in New York this summer, according to network officials. 

The second season of  Godfather of Harlem was the premium channel’s best performing season of all time, with the season two finale servicing as Epix’s best performing finale episode to date, according to the network. 

Godfather of Harlem is produced by ABC Signature and is executive produced by Whitaker along with Chris Brancato, Paul Eckstein, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, Markuann Smith and Joe Chappelle.

“Godfather of Harlem is that rare show that is both addictively entertaining, and deeply relevant,” Epix president Michael Wright said in a statement. “Forest Whitaker, Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein have crafted a series that deserves all the acclaim it has received, and it grows more compelling every season.”

Added Whitaker: “I’m thrilled to be returning to my show, working alongside our truly incredible cast, crew, and writers, as we tell this unique and powerful story. I can’t wait to get back to set, and thank Michael Wright, EPIX, ABC Signature, and our dedicated fans for their support."

 A slew of returning series draw the biggest attention among the new show debuts this week.

Paramount Plus’ dramedy Younger debuts its seventh and final season on April 15. The Daren Star-produced series, which made its debut on TV Land, stars Sutton Foster. The series will also stream on Hulu. 

 Epix on April 18 will debut the sophomore season of its drama series Godfather of Harlem, starring Forest Whitaker, while on the same night Showtime brings back its reality series Couples Therapy for its sophomore campaign.

 Show premieres include HBO’s murder/mystery drama Mare of Easttown, starring Kate Winslet (April 18) and Netflix’s comedy series Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! Starring Jamie Foxx (April 14).

 Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of April 12 to April 18 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

April 13 -- Our Towns (documentary) -- HBO 

 April 15 -- The Banishing (horror) -- Shudder 

 April 15 -- Joseline’s Cabaret: Miami (reality series) -- WE  

 April 15 -- Spy City (drama) -- AMC Plus 

April 16 -- Big Shot (drama) -- Disney Plus

 April 16 -- Frank of Ireland (comedy) -- Prime Video 

 April 16 -- Van Helsing (returning series) -- Syfy 

The Year Earth Changed (documentary) -- Apple TV Plus 

 April 18 -- Confronting a Serial Killer (documentary) -- Starz 

Epix will return Godfather of Harlem for a second season on April 18, the network announced Thursday.

The series stars Forest Whitaker as gangster Bumpy Johnson and explores the collision of the criminal underworld and civil rights in the tumultuous year of 1964, according to the network. 

Along with Whitaker, Vincent D’Onofrio, Llfenesha Hadera, Nigél Thatch and Giancarlo Esposito also returns for the show’s second season. 

Epix will bring back its original drama series Godfather of Harlem for a second season in April 2021, the network said Thursday. 

The series stars Forest Whitaker as  infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson, who in the early 1960s returned from eleven years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles, said network officials.

According to Epix, season two will see Bumpy continue his struggle to reclaim command over Harlem from the Italian mobsters by attempting to seed internal discord and sever their vital heroin pipeline. Meanwhile, Malcolm X will be forced to choose between violent and nonviolent response to the near constant threats to his life and his relationship with Bumpy will be severely tested.

 Season one of Godfather of Harlem debuted in September 2019.

Also Read: A 'Godfather' of Storytelling 

Epix will build on its Godfather of Harlem franchise with a new documentary series from series star Forest Whitaker.

The four-part docuseries, Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem, is inspired by the music and subjects featured in the original series, according to Epix. 

The docuseries, which will premiere this Fall, will bring alive the dramatic true story of Harlem and its music during the 1960’s and connect that history to our present moment, said the premium service, said the premium service.

RELATED: Forest Whitaker: A Godfather of Storytelling

Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem will be executive produced by Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi's Significant Productions, along with Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean and Keith McQuirter (Decoder Media).

Epix has already greenlit a second season of Godfather of Harlem, which chronicles the collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history.

RELATED: Epix Greenlights Second Season of 'Godfather of Harlem'

Epix has renewed its freshman drama series Godfather of Harlem for a second season, the premium network said Wednesday.

The series, which stars Forest Whitaker as infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson, will return for a 10-episode sophomore season, with production set to begin in New York later this year, according to Epix. 

The series, which chronicles the collision of the criminal underworld and the civil rights movement during one of the most tumultuous times in American history, was created by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein (Narcos).

“Godfather of Harlem season one was a remarkable success, tripling previous viewership numbers for the network and earning acclaim from both critics and viewers alike,” said Michael Wright, Epix president. “We couldn’t wait to reunite with Chris, Paul, Forest and the team at ABC Signature to continue telling this compelling and extremely relevant story.

RELATED: Forest Whitaker is a "Godfather' of Storytelling

The 2019-20 Fall TV season officially kicks off this week with several cable and streaming services debuting shows as the broadcast networks launch their new and returning series.

Epix’s drama series Godfather of Harlem debuts Sept. 29, and stars Forest Whitaker as notorious gangster Bumpy Johnson, who looks to take back the Harlem underworld in the late 1960s after a long jail stint.

Streaming service Shudder on Sept. 26 will launch a reboot of the classic horror anthology series Creepshow, while Amazon Prime Video on Sept. 27 debuts a special musical finale for its Emmy-winning series Transparent.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting this week on cable networks and streaming services:

Sept. 23 -- Team Kaylie (comedy) -- Netflix

Sept. 25 -- Buzz (documentary) -- HBO

Sept. 25 -- Cake (animation) -- FXX

Sept. 25 -- Crank Yankers (returning series) -- Comedy Central

Sept. 25 -- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (returning series) -- FXX

Sept. 25 -- Liza on Demand (returning series) -- YouTube

Sept. 26 -- Untold Stories of Hip Hop (music series) -- WEtv

Sept. 27 -- In the Shadow of the Moon (movie) -- Netflix

Sept. 27 -- The Politician (drama) -- Netflix

Sept, 27 -- Van Helsing (returning series) -- Syfy

Veteran actor Vincent D’Onofrio has played a wide range of character roles, from hard-nosed, good-guy detective Robert Goren on NBC’s Law and Order: Criminal Intent to supervillain Wilson Fisk in Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix. But the 60-year old actor said his upcoming role as mobster Vincent “The Chin” Gigante in Epix’s original series Godfather of Harlem was one of his most difficult roles yet.

As a leader in the Genovese crime family, D’Onofrio’s Gigante character looks to help secure control of the Harlem underworld in the 1960s from legendary African-American gangster Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker). Johnson, who has just returned from a 10-year prison stint, seeks to retake the neighborhood he once ruled from Gigante.

D’Onofrio told The Wire that he initially didn’t want to take the role of Gigante when it was offered to him by showrunner Chris Brancato, given the racial overtones surrounding the character.

“He explained the character to me, and my first reaction to it was I can’t — not in this climate,” he said. “I come from a very liberal family ... and I’m a bleeding-heart liberal. But I remember the one thing Chris said to me was if the part is not done correctly, if there’s one caricature of a racist that’s played soft in any way, then we fail. I know if you come in you’ll play it truthfully, honest and hardcore.”

Once he decided to play the role, D’Onofrio said it was “hard” portraying the character. “It’s my job, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t feel a little sick to my stomach at the end of the day,” he said.

D’Onofrio said the tense relations between races in Godfather of Harlem has correlations to today’s political and social environment. “The biggest fear for my character in this show is blackness rising; my biggest fear as a person is white supremacy rising. I understand that fear, and that’s how I played it.”

Godfather of Harlem premieres Sept. 29 on Epix.

Epix has launched on the AT&T TV Now streaming service nearly three months after the premium service launched on AT&T’s DirecTv’s satellite service.

AT&T TV Now, formerly DirecTV Now, will offer Epix for $6 per month.The launch follows Epix and AT&T’s recently announced carriage agreement and the network’s May 19 launch on the DirecTV satellite service. Subscribers of the streaming service will have access to Epix original programming, including Pennyworth and upcoming drama Godfather of Harlem.

RELATED: AT&T, Epix Reach Carriage Deal 

“We’re thrilled to be launching on the AT&T TV app, making our premium programming available to even more AT&T customers across the country,” said Michael Wright, Epix president in a statement.. “It’s an incredibly exciting moment for the network as we continue to expand our distribution footprint and bring our superior customer experience and quality programming to new audiences.”

Added Daniel York, Chief Content Officer for AT&T: “We’re pleased to expand the Epix offering to our AT&T TV Now subscribers, giving our customers even more choice in quality premium programming.”

Epix Thursday released a first-look video trailer for its upcoming drama series Godfather Of Harlem, starring Forest Whitaker.

The series, which will debut this fall, chronicles the life of infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who in the early 1960s returned from 10 years in prison to find the Harlem neighborhood he once ruled in shambles, according to Epix. 

Godfather of Harlem also stars Vincent D’Onofrio (Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Daredevil), Ilfenesh Hadera (She’s Gotta Have It, Baywatch), Nigél Thatch (Selma, American Dreams), Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas) and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul).  

Emmy-nominated Actor Giancarlo Esposito has played numerous iconic roles on the big screen and TV over a nearly 30-year career — none better known than Gustavo “Gus” Fring on the AMC drama series Breaking Bad and prequel Better Call Saul. He’ll be seen next year as Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in Epix’s series Godfather of Harlem, about famed gangster Bumpy Johnson. Johnson was played by Laurence Fishburne in the 1997 film Hoodlum (distributed by Epix owner MGM) and by Forest Whitaker in Godfather of Harlem, which is part of the network’s effort to pivot from movies to original series. Multichannel News senior content producer, programming R. Thomas Umstead met with Esposito on a Brooklyn, N.Y., set to talk about Godfather and about Gus Fring’s longevity. Here are edited highlights.

MCN: What drew you to Godfather of Harlem?

Giancarlo Esposito: The really delicious writing of an historical piece always has the elements that could make not only our history come alive again, but also give us opportunities as actors to retrace historical figures who really changed our world. Many people don’t know the record and history of the gentleman I’m playing, Minister and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. They don’t know how many amendments he got passed for minimum wage, for the Education Act and the list goes on and on and on and on. He was one of our very first bona fide civil rights leaders way back in the ’30s. People know Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, but they don’t know Adam Clayton Powell’s tireless struggle to get his agenda pushed through. So for me it’s very exciting to play this particular character and render him real, truthful and honest.

MCN: How do you think the series will play with younger viewers given its historical bent?

GE: First you have some iconic actors in it — Forest Whitaker, Paul Sorvino and Vincent D’Onofrio. Also, this is a really perfect blend of a show that shows you the collision between politics and organized crime. When people think of organized crime they think of the Italians, and they don’t really know the history of organized crime in Harlem and how Bumpy Johnson took over the numbers racket, prostitution and drugs from the Italians, which was a very courageous and brave move. I say all that because it gives the show some context [for younger viewers] through the excitement of violence that happens in the show, along with the relationships that are formed. I think young people will really start to understand where corruption comes from.

MCN: This is coming in the midst of number of shows that are portraying African-Americans in diverse roles on a number of distribution outlets. Is this a great time to be an actor of color?

GE: Oh absolutely. I think it’s a great time and again you know this show is different because we have Italian gangsters, the African-American gangsters and the politicians, so it’s a really unique blend of what was really going on in history at that time. So, yes, the opportunity to be able to play these kind of characters in this kind of show on a wonderful network is a gift. And it’s not only the subject matter; it’s also the seamless writing. They’ve done so much research to write what really is truthful.

MCN: You’ve had a number of iconic roles including of course Gus Fring. Did you ever think that character would become so popular?

GE: I guess I’m a little surprised. I knew that in our fourth season of Breaking Bad the dynamic shifted during the show. People always loved [lead character] Walter White but they started to move toward Gustavo Fring, a bad guy who was very different than any kind of bad guy they’d ever seen before. He was shrewd, he was polite, he was affable and he took care of the people who worked for him. So that was all something that [series creator] Vince Gilligan and I came up with. I was determined to play that character as someone who’s an upstanding member of society — that was very different than what anybody had ever seen. Of course, I had no idea it would blow up so big and that people would call me Gus, not Giancarlo, on the street [laughs]. That’s OK. That means I did my job well.

MCN: Now you have reprised the role in Better Call Saul. Was it always the plan for your to appear in the Breaking Bad spinoff?

GE: I joined Better Call Saul at the end of our third season — we’ve now finished our fourth and are going into the fifth — and it’s been really nice to do that. I didn’t want to do it — they had to convince me to come back. I initially said, Gus was done and I was through. But the idea appealed to me because to play a character in a prequel changes the dynamic of things in a major way. Even if they’re using me as the catalyst in the same kind of timing journey of Breaking Bad, it still gives me the opportunity to explore things that I hadn’t explored before, and that’s the reason I went back.