# The Westies TV review: J.K. Simmons does capable Scorsese cosplay

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-11 00:29 UTC · Category: Entertainment · Sources: 14 · Current Velocity: 14.97

## Executive Summary
J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver lead 'The Westies,' a gritty new MGM+ crime drama detailing an Irish-American mob's conflict with the Mafia in 1980s New York.

## Intelligence Brief
MGM+ has premiered 'The Westies,' a period crime drama centered on a notorious Irish-American gang in Hell's Kitchen. Simmons and Titus Welliver, focusing on the power struggle between an upstart Irish family and the Mafia.


Reviews from outlets such as Roger Ebert, The Guardian, and The Hollywood Reporter describe the show as a violent, high-production gangster drama, with some comparing its style to Martin Scorsese films, 'The Sopranos,' and 'Peaky Blinders.' Coverage from Yahoo highlights that the 1980s New York scenes were created using a completely analogue process without the use of AI. Viewers and critics are currently assessing whether the show transcends generic gangster tropes.


Further attention is focused on the performances of the lead actors and the show's portrayal of the historical gang.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Who stars in 'The Westies'?
The series stars J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver, with Tom Brittney also featured in the cast.

### Which streaming service carries the show?
The series is available on MGM+.

### Was AI used to create the 1980s setting?
No; creators confirmed via Yahoo that an analogue process was used for the epic New York scenes.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Hollywood, Irish, Westies TV, J.K Simmons, Scorsese, JK Simmons, Tom Brittney, Westies, Exclusive The Rumored Next Batman Stars, Wild New Crime Epic Perfect for Peaky Blinders Lovers

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.V. Club | The Westies won't be your American Peaky Blinders | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZEFVX3lxTE1sVmQxeDNvTWNxLVd1bGoyQmJscENLS3NhMlNXYXYtQ0ZMLXZkNG15Y0x0eENUQUJiRVhldk9SREVZWS1lOV9NTm9Ea2YxTlRFVGdLbzlDVVVwTUdoSEtlMVFQcTQ?oc=5) |
| TV Insider | Mob Drama With 'The Westies,' 'Lestat' Gets Witchy, Crisis of Faith on 'Grantchester,' Wimbledon Finals | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxOTUh0dXd6SDk0MTYyMGJaVFNQMERRcVlabTlLMEhxYUlmalZpZjZSeEZnUmczVnpfUVljVG43dTZTUlJiWTVzMUVUTUF2S0k2N0RROVg4MGZZM2YxZnJlWVR5dW1PN0x1N3lYc3o3RVo5SzRxTm9Hd3MwN0hTS3hvQXhtV0doY1ViajFFTThGMGIyZ1BVakgxWEJJUXNFUDVhby1fNEc2TQ?oc=5) |
| Men's Journal | Exclusive: The Rumored Next Batman Stars in a Wild New Crime Epic Perfect for 'Peaky Blinders' Lovers | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxON1pVcUdndlh4R2lrUnhFMk5pcHhvNktFTXMwZEFiV2d5c0NoYjBsVXo2ZXVZNVZzNGFtQVVYT3lyOThWM1VFQ295Z2NRVnhTTWtVZGMzUWhCWVFVaFhVRnhwODlabzBTaDNjaHNDZHZnSWhReV84Qk9VbTFWeWxGTGxn?oc=5) |
| The Boston Globe | In ‘The Westies,’ an upstart Irish-American crime family takes on the Mafia | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxNTzY0b3lxTnRrN0J4cEVUU2VxNEJoRU1YZWg3bldTOXJCbVo2aDRuNGl0bUNmbjI3RzRQSHdQYVZTNGJ3TVVPRUtpMkxteTVjamU3ajkwX000bUNVMldwUVBIT2NqUy1wSTB5S19CTHJRVnh0cDU3eWUybDVuV3h0SDdWUzBLZExaRHc?oc=5) |
| Collider | 'Bosch's Titus Welliver Is the Clear Standout of MGM+'s New Crime Drama 'The Westies' | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxORTlYUTY4WmVxSnNSUTdkb0otandHVFZ6VDJISGc3VmNsY0dYN2UtdmNNWnp4QWRIbXBnM1Fqd1VPejNldkM0TUttdTNVRW9ueDNyUVN0SlloQTRFVjc0ZlQ3a1V1NzRQUFY4Ni1ULWI3YW1DR09BZFV4Tkl4aThGRw?oc=5) |
| TVGuide.com | The Westies Review: J.K. Simmons Leads a Grungy, Compelling New York Crime Drama | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxOZ0l2dDJwcXRrNFlLQXFXem05QjFmb0J3bEVDekcwMWdZYi0zVmpiN3JYd2FjYjUyeVdZNUNNbFExcXYwd3JrUkFKdFFJNDRObDdWQ0dJdTF0azUtWTc1TzI5X1NGcFN2cG5UcElRcTRkUF90NGVYdDBDRGtoZUZocg?oc=5) |
| Radio Times | Hollywood legend JK Simmons and Grantchester’s Tom Brittney tease their new "complex" crime drama | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxOckE1cGNCTWdSSF92aGFjeFZYcm95M19xVkxhRzVNc05lY0ltcmtmc1k5ejJUMWdnMzJQV1VqRGJnS2w4a1FCLVJxbll6QTl6TXJvQlE4Nzl5d1lkbmRxRHZiamM3MUdEb3hGWHE2dUxzU3BoYUd0R0tlcWxvb1Z4Vzh5WjZ1VUtxSnJJbnFxUkVkZHBfTnVJWA?oc=5) |
| 3DVF | The Westies brings Hell’s Kitchen’s Irish mob to MGM+ | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTFBNMHZwM01TRUZnd1JaRnM5bkdjQUkzc3BXa0lkYmVVNi1oNEZ2RndoSlQ2WGg0ZW9KUUJWSmJNOVpVendnLXdjMFpvZzdNNmlPVzVZTFkxQTdNM0d0dlI1QjNSRFFnQWlTMUJ1Sml6d19JTzdvRUNCMHVsUkhxZw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | ‘The Westies’ set visit: J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver turn back the clock and turn up the drama | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxPZ0dsN2hYTWpmSjdwalRfa29TSG5Dc1Bta0l6M3dJcl9qNGVqZElKT2hSbU9PWXpsOVczc1hZTjRKaHEtSkhQS0wxeU9Qa3VudFF0a0JfZnUwdDhzV0xKTTFCVy1Ua0ctTFNWdktlcjBaVnhBUXFvelBtVFdsdDQyNXNYd0VhdVA1RkV5bQ?oc=5) |
| WSJ | ‘The Westies’ Review: Craic and Crime on MGM+ | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxPMk9xd0Zzcm5BWU4waXVFMFhmVjZ3NmdRbTJtWXk1RHBOUEdTWGZSazR0VjlIRTNFZmoxdTlydUlsNjRaM0ZpN1lueEM5endvODV1SS1iYlRaV2ZXYlVFTG5aTXNMbUhvMkl2SDllVFc2Z3c3SG1GcmNlVGRnV2xSbFVMdGoyckctVnZocHdrNmxpODFRYTh4UWl3?oc=5) |
| Roger Ebert | The Westies TV review: J.K. Simmons does capable Scorsese cosplay | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxNdHN2S1U3UHRuZnA5d05PNEpocGFLYW42YW5IRnpIelZEMjQ5RnUzdFA0Q2lTRi1qQnlQQ2VlWDFtanFzY2xwQzdKYXJURXlZVWllT2FNdkd2ME8wRHJnOW9uS0FNYmQxSWZ6eXBmM3V0TXZzTTNfT0c1bmQ1MnNrX09XeFFtckdp?oc=5) |
| The Hollywood Reporter | ‘The Westies’ Review: J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver Lead MGM+’s Handsome but Generic Gangster Drama | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxPRHJ1RDV1cXlxSzRsUG9xUVpFMVFHdFFJMUdUcHhYeTVvV2R4QU4xMTlpV0h6cmFRaHY4R0FWZW9md2VIcUQ5Uks1eVQ5QnFLU3BMZVBNQ0I1MzFCbkdRcGFwYUFqVks2b2xvdFo4R1hELWR4TFhzVGhRQWxhbkloR2d1c3NDNDFkLVV3cVprdDJIOU5UTFFmbFZmZVNHUXc?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | The Westies review – this violent New York mob drama is like Peaky Blinders meets The Sopranos | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxQdTdwSFJfY0hHVmNSbkkzcmNCazg4cjVHZFR2NUdiSUJlSFhLMkduMGdLMS1DZmJMcXV5VXNJQ0U2X3ktWHVWeGdEWG51R01lMENVOVlMYllBRUp6U1B0Tm81N2dRa0RObzRiYjZsNHFEN2tzdUJzU0hFSmNNU2JZQjAtVk5JS05uUVFKMWlCLUlZQXJqYkh0VE9SS2xjeDljUDlrZzBNTC13QQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | 'It was a completely analogue process': The Westies creators confirm no AI was used for 'epic' 1980s New York scenes in new MGM+ crime drama | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxORjA1N3VsYUZadjd4OF9TRDFid3pZZ29DSVFoVlZTaWxzZG9WRzRYVXgtS2g4R2RhbTNJbklqMkQyaXhzeHB4eU9KV1I5OUFIRW5XN0REdW1BWUJab1ZkTUZBTjdsclFoNGtZN0llVV9QbXFSWXhIaXR5MDQ2ZUQ0WnM5WG5NQUFldnNCNmlaYlJ2ZHZYV3RCSXBXOXc1WWlDU195NjF2eFcyaE0?oc=5) |
| Time Out Worldwide | A new series about NYC's notorious gang, The Westies, premieres this week | 2026-07-10 13:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxNT2UzZ1NiempvYmluOFNIV2tjaG1LcEZiZjctUUFGVXRBeVNadWd3UG1PYVZSd3ZlY3hMRW5IRHZadC1IYjVXcWUyWEFuSk9CdWltaklQS2hSSTIyb25nc2tlVnV3cVpLRXc5SlNXb3lLc2FFUnQ5UTFGWlY3Y1JReTlaRnZ4d1Zqb1M0ZGFScy1pUE00cG9FMmVja1FfT2hucWZtcS1mMTkxcERQcDgw?oc=5) |

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