Narcos creator and Godfather of Harlem showrunner Chris Brancato is doing what he does best — he’s forming a gang.
Brancato and hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz are formalizing the creative partnership they first forged on Epix series Godfather of Harlem and continued on Hotel Cocaine, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The two are currently working together on another gang drama: The Westies for MGM+. Brancato is showrunner on all three of their collaborations; Swizz Beatz is executive music producer on Godfather of Harlem.
The guys have not yet selected a name for their coming banner — the LLC piece is still to come, we’re told. That’s “somewhere down the line…maybe soon,” Brancato said.
Together, the two will develop television, film and podcast projects that “intertwine compelling narratives with rich cultural elements, reflecting their commitment to storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences,” they said.
Brancato has written and produced over 250 hours of television, including for The X-Files, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and Hannibal. Brancato wrote the feature films Hoodlum and Species II.
Swizz Beatz (real name Kasseem Daoud Dean) is a Grammy-winning producer. He shares 2011’s Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group win with Jay-Z for their song “On to the Next One.” Swizz Beatz is an absolute ‘90s hip-hop legend; his family founded Ruff Ryders Entertainment, which brought us DMX, Drag-On, Eve, and The Lox (Jadakiss, Sheek and Styles P).
Dean made the theme songs for both Hotel Cocaine and Godfather of Harlem; he’s a consulting producer on The Westies, a gritty crime drama centering on New York City’s infamously violent Irish gang of the same name. The Westies will go into production this July.
Further details about upcoming projects from the partnership will be announced in the coming months, we’re told.
“Working with Swizz has been inspiring and energizing,” Brancato told THR. “We’ve found a creative rhythm that feels rare. Continuing to build with him and his team, Grady Spivey and Monique Blake, to bring untold stories to life in bold, cinematic ways is something I’m very excited about.”
Swizz Beatz added: “Working with Chris? It’s been epic! After four successful seasons of Godfather of Harlem — a true cultural phenomenon — moving into producing and creating new shows with him felt incredibly natural and organic. That’s our vibe, our inclusive chemistry, fueling and driving each other to spark fresh creative ideas. That’s exactly what this partnership will deliver.”
