This week (August 8th), MGM+ released the first look image of Emmy award-winning actor Rome Flynn in his role as up-and-coming crime boss Frank Lucas in the hit drama series, Godfather of Harlem. Flynn joins the critically acclaimed series in its third season, stepping into the prominent role previously held by Denzel Washington in the 2007 film American Gangster. In this series, Lucas’ story begins ten years earlier than it did in the film.

In the photo, Flynn exudes a potent mix of charisma and danger, perfectly encapsulating the character’s rise to power in the 1960s and 1970s. Godfather of Harlem depicts the life of crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), who in the 1960s returned after a decade in prison to find his neighborhood in shambles and new powers rising. It is set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement and explores the collision of the criminal underworld and politics of the era. With Flynn stepping into the role of Lucas, the show is set to expand on its rich depiction of Harlem’s tumultuous history.

Source: Courtesy / MGM +

Season 4 follows Bumpy as he continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York’s Mafia families, while contending with the emergence of a potential rival in newly arrived Black gangster Frank Lucas. After Malcolm X’s (Jason Alan Carvell) tragic death, Bumpy must also grapple with his daughter Elise’s (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) involvement with the Black Panthers.

Although we’re not sure when we can expect to see the fourth season of the series created by Chris Brancato and the late Paul Eckstein, it’s great to see that production is underway. Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, the first three seasons are available to stream on MGM+.