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Titus Welliver’s ‘80s-Set ‘Bosch’ Replacement Is Officially Rewriting History [Exclusive]
MGM+'s upcoming 1980s-set crime drama The Westies, seen as a spiritual successor to Titus Welliver's Bosch, is not a direct dramatisation of real Hell's Kitchen gangsters despite sharing character names with them. Star Stanley Morgan, who plays Mickey Flanagan, told Collider in an exclusive interview that although his character and Tom Brittney's Jimmy Roarke echo real-life figures Mickey Featherstone and Jimmy Coonan, the show takes creative licence rather than retelling their biographies, allowing the writers to craft an original story while drawing on genuine historical texture.
Morgan explained that his character's relationship with Roarke, the two having known each other since childhood, differs from the real-life dynamic between Featherstone and Coonan, key figures in the notorious Westies gang. He said he researched the real gang and other stories from the era to inform his performance, describing the true events as "raw materials" feeding into the fictional narrative rather than a blueprint the series strictly follows.
In short
- The Westies fictionalises 1980s Hell's Kitchen gang history rather than retelling it directly.
- Stars Stanley Morgan and Tom Brittney share character names with real gangsters, not their exact stories.
- Morgan says real events informed, but didn't dictate, his character's portrayal.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Writers and producers who support this approach argue that dramatised fiction grounded in real events is a time-honoured creative practice. Using character names inspired by real figures whilst substantially reimagining their relationships and plot arcs allows creators to draw on historical authenticity whilst maintaining the artistic freedom necessary for compelling storytelling. Audiences generally understand the distinction between dramatised entertainment and documentary truth, so this approach serves both fidelity to period and dramatic necessity.
The case against
Those who question this approach argue that using the names of real people (or near-identical names) whilst substantially changing their histories raises ethical concerns about representation and public understanding. When characters share identifiable names with actual individuals, there is a risk that audiences may conflate fictional depiction with historical fact, potentially distorting how real people and their legacies are understood. If writers substantially deviate from historical truth, they should consider altering identifying details to avoid misrepresenting actual individuals.
Explained simply
MGM+ is developing The Westies, a crime drama set in the 1980s following the conclusion of the Titus Welliver series Bosch. The show is inspired by the real Westies gang, a notorious organised crime group that operated in Hell's Kitchen, New York during that period.
The real Westies gang was active in 1980s New York and gained notoriety for its violent criminal activities. Its most prominent members included Mickey Featherstone and Jimmy Coonan, who directed much of the group's operations and conflicts.
The fictional drama will feature characters with names based on these real figures but will not serve as a strict historical account. Instead, the series intends to use the gang's true story as background material for an original fictional narrative set against an authentic 1980s backdrop.
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