MGM+ is premiering a new crime drama called 'The Westies,' created by veteran television producers behind hits like Narcos and Godfather of Harlem. The series follows a fictional Irish crime family in 1980s Hell's Kitchen and draws heavily from the real Westies gang that once controlled illegal operations across New York City. Despite their relatively small membership of roughly 20 to 60 members, the genuine gang wielded surprising influence over major union operations, the docks, and prominent venues including Madison Square Garden.

The television adaptation emphasises the underdog nature of the group, showing how they maintained authority despite being vastly outnumbered by Italian mafia organisations. In real life, the Westies orchestrated schemes such as stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds from ticket sales at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum by placing union members in no-show positions. J.K. Simmons portrays the gang's leader in a character drawing inspiration from actual historical figures Mickey Spillane and Jimmy Coonan, who successively led the organisation until internal conflicts and law enforcement pressure eventually dismantled the group.