Rome Flynn will star in Godfather of Harlem season four

Emmy Award winner Rome Flynn will appear in a recurring role on the MGM+ series Godfather of Harlem in season four. Flynn (pictured below) will play real-life gangster Frank Lucas, who the streaming service describes as "a country boy from North Carolina who ventured into Harlem and, after initial friction with gangster Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), eventually rose to Bumpy's fierce defender and right hand."



Denzel Washington played Lucas in the film American Gangster, but in Godfather of Harlem his story begins ten years earlier than in the film.

Created by Chris Brancato and the late Paul Eckstein, Godfather of Harlem tells a story inspired by infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Whitaker), who returned from an eleven-year prison sentence in the early '60s to find the neighborhood he once ruled in ruins.

In season four, Bumpy continues his bloody war for control of Harlem against New York's mafia families while dealing with the rise of a potential rival in recently arrived black gangster Frank Lucas. After the tragic death of Malcolm

“When I saw Rome’s audition, I immediately knew we’d found our man – equal parts charming and ruthless, savvy and suave. Rome is a wonderful actor who can go toe-to-toe with Forest Whitaker and our other great performers,” said Brancato in a statement.

Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy and Erik LaRay Harvey are among the cast returning for season four. The first three seasons can be streamed on MGM+.

The series is produced by ABC Signature and is executive produced by Brancato, Paul Eckstein, Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, Markuann Smith and Ray Quinlan. Michael Panes and Stephen Schiff are the writing producers and Swizz Beatz is the executive music producer.

“I’m filled with gratitude! Thrilled to be a part of the Godfather of Harlem universe and breathe new life into the legend of Frank Lucas. I have so much admiration for Forest Whitaker. Working opposite him, being led by the brilliant creator Chris Brancato, is truly a gift. An actor’s dream,” Flynn shared.

Flynn had a recurring role as firefighter Derrick Gibson on season twelve of NBC's Chicago Fire. He also appeared in the Prime Video series With Love in the regular role of Santiago Zayas, ABC's How to Get Away with Murder, in the role of Gabriel Maddox, son of Sam Keating (Tom Verica) and law student of Annalize. Keating (Viola Davis) and Wendall Ndugu on ABC's Grey's Anatomy.