Rome Flynn Cast as a Real-Life Gangster on Godfather of Harlem!
Hot off his stint as a firefighter on Chicago Fire’s latest season, daytime grad Rome Flynn has nabbed an exciting new role on the MGM+ series Godfather of Harlem! The Bold & The Beautiful alum — whose portrayal of Zende Forrester won him the 2018 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor — will join the cast of the crime drama in a recurring capacity when the series returns to the streamer for its fourth season.
According to Deadline, Flynn will be taking on the role of real-life gangster Frank Lucas, the notorious drug lord who operated in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Exploring Lucas’ origin story will have Flynn working closely with Forest Whitaker, who headlines the series as real-life crime boss Bumpy Johnson. According to a show description, Frank arrives in Harlem from North Carolina and, after getting off on the wrong foot with Bumpy, soon rises through the ranks to become the mobster’s fierce defender and right-hand man. Denzel Washington was nominated for a Golden Globe award for portraying Frank Lucas in the 2007 film American Gangster; the character’s story will begin about a decade earlier in Godfather of Harlem.
“I’m filled with gratitude!” Flynn told Deadline. “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.”
Added Brancato, “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.”
The first three seasons of Godfather of Harlem are available to stream on MGM+ so you can get caught up before season four drops!
