Tom Brittney, best known for portraying Reverend Will Davenport in ITV's Grantchester, is taking on a starkly different role in the new MGM+ crime drama The Westies, based on the real-life Irish American gang of the same name. The series premieres on 12 July 2026 via MGM+ on Amazon Prime Video, and Brittney has admitted feeling 'daunted' by the violent part, which he says might cost him some fans.
A Brutal Departure from Grantchester
In The Westies, Brittney plays Jimmy Roarke, a character far removed from the gentle clergyman he portrayed for years. 'I think I might lose a few Grantchester fans just because it's so different!' Brittney said with a laugh. 'But hopefully, the transition will be smooth because I know how different they are, and as an actor that's exactly what you want.' He added, 'You want to do a departure from something you've done before, and I couldn't have asked for something better.'
The actor confessed to feeling 'daunted' stepping into a world so different from his previous work. 'You're spending eight hours developing a character, which I'd done with Grantchester. I was very daunted to step into this world that was so different from anything I'd done before, but then there was just something about where I felt it was something I could really play. And then the more we were on set, the more I just went, 'Yeah, this is my new home now.''
Working Alongside Hollywood Heavyweights
Brittney also expressed initial nervousness about joining an ensemble that includes Hollywood icon J.K. Simmons, Bosch star Titus Welliver, Ozark's Jessica Frances Dukes, and Downton Abbey's Allen Leech. However, his concerns quickly dissipated as he developed strong working relationships on set. 'I feel like that kind of chemistry is just actors working together who respect each other and who are generous actors,' Simmons said of the cast dynamic. 'You will occasionally find less generous actors who, when the camera is on you and not on them, are not as interested in doing their work. And fortunately that was not the case on this job. So, just a level of mutual respect and consideration is a big part of it, and good writing!'
Simmons, who plays Eamon Sweeney, also praised the British actors' ability to master New York dialects. 'I am always so impressed - almost always - by the British actors and their facility with the language and specifically with dialects. When the cameras were rolling, it was like talking to two guys from Hell's Kitchen and there was never a sense… It was jarring at times to hear Mr proper Englishman start speaking off-camera!'
Plot and Setting of The Westies
The official synopsis from MGM+ describes The Westies as 'a gritty and kinetic crime drama centering on New York City's infamously violent Irish gang of the same name.' Set in the early 1980s, the story unfolds as the construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center on the Westies' home turf in Hell's Kitchen promises a financial windfall. Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies' legendary brutality and cunning have given them leverage to share the spoils through a fragile détente. However, internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, sweeping the Westies into the FBI's deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.
Impact and Expectations
Brittney's transition from a beloved cosy crime series to a brutal period drama marks a significant career move. The actor acknowledged the risk of alienating some viewers but expressed hope that the role would showcase his range. 'You sign this contract and you'll hope for this to go on for a while,' he said, drawing parallels between the long-running Grantchester and his hopes for The Westies. The series promises to deliver a raw, intense portrayal of gang violence and survival in 1980s New York, with a focus on character-driven storytelling and historical authenticity.
