BMF (TV series)

BMF (or Black Mafia Family) is an American crime drama television series created by Randy Huggins, which follows the Black Mafia Family, a drug trafficking and money laundering organization. The series premiered on September 26, 2021, on Starz. After the series premiere, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on January 6, 2023. In January 2023, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on March 1, 2024.^[1] In February 2024, ahead of the third season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season, which is set to premiere on June 6, 2025.^[2][3]

BMF
Genre	Crime drama
Created by	Randy Huggins
Starring	Demetrius Flenory Jr. Da'Vinchi Russell Hornsby Michole Briana White Eric Kofi-Abrefa Ajiona Alexus Myles Truitt Steve Harris La La Anthony Kelly Hu
Opening theme	"Wish Me Luck" by 50 Cent and Charlie Wilson
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	28
Production
Executive producers	Curtis Jackson Randy Huggins Terri Kopp Anthony Wilson Anne Clements Tasha Smith
Running time	52 minutes
Production companies	8 Mile Sconi Productions Lionsgate Television G-Unit Films and Television Inc.
Original release
Network	Starz
Release	September 26, 2021 (2021-09-26) – present

Plot

BMF is inspired by the true story of two brothers who rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in the history of America. Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory's charismatic leadership, Terry "Southwest T" Flenory's business acumen and the fraternal partnership's vision beyond the drug trade and into the world of hip hop would render the brothers iconic on a global level. Their unwavering belief in family loyalty would be the cornerstone of their partnership and the crux of their eventual estrangement. It has been described as a story about love, betrayal, and thug-capitalism in the pursuit of the American dream.

Cast and characters

Main

• Demetrius Flenory Jr. as Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory, drug kingpin, Charles & Lucille's son, and Terry and Nicole's oldest brother.
• Da'Vinchi as Terry "Southwest T" Flenory, drug kingpin, Charles & Lucille's son, Nicole's older brother and Meech's little brother.
• Russell Hornsby as Charles Flenory, Meech, Terry and Nicole's father, and Lucille's husband.
• Michole Briana White as Lucille Flenory, Charles' wife, and Meech, Terry & Nicole's mother.
• Eric Kofi-Abrefa as Lamar Silas, Meech's rival (seasons 1–2;4)
• Ajiona Alexus as Katherine "Kato" Eder (season 1)
• Myles Truitt as B-Mickie, Meech & Terry's childhood friend and partner (seasons 1–2;4).
• Steve Harris as Detective Von Bryant, the detective assigned to stop Meech & Terry's operation.
• La La Anthony as Markeisha Taylor, Terry's new love interest (guest season 1;^[4] main season 2–present)
• Kelly Hu as Detective Veronica Jin, Detective Bryant's partner (season 2–present)^[4]

Recurring

• Laila Pruitt as Nicole Flenory, Meech & Terry's little sister and Lucille & Charles' daughter
• Kash Doll as Monique, Lamar's ex & Meech's baby's mother (seasons 1–2)
• Wood Harris as Pat, Meech & Terry's former supplier (season 1)
• Snoop Dogg as Pastor Swift, the pastor of the local church (seasons 1–2)
• Lil Zane as Sockie (seasons 1–2)
• Serayah as Lori Walker (seasons 1–2)
• Markice Moore as Filmel, member of the 12th Street (season 1)
• Myles Bullock as Slick, member of the 12th Street, Lamar's best friend (season 1)
• Christian Robinson as Tiny, member of the 12th Street (seasons 1–2)
• Rafael Castillo as Nedo, member of the 12th Street (seasons 1–2)
• Yusef Thomas as Roland, member of the BMF
• Sean Michael Gloria as Detective Jonathan Lopez, Bryant's former partner who was killed by Kato as he tried to detain Meech
• Sydney Mitchell as Lawanda
• Tyshawn Freeman as Hoop, member of the BMF
• Peyton Alex Smith as Boom, Markaisha's abusive husband (seasons 1–2)
• Christine Horn as Mabel Jones (season 2)^[4]
• Leslie Jones as Federal Agent Tracy Chambers (season 2)^[5]
• Caresha Romeka Brownee as Deanna Washington, Ty Washington's Wife (season 2)
• Jerel Alston as Kevin Bryant, Detective Bryant's son (seasons 2–3)
• Erica Pinkett as Delia (seasons 2-3)
• Javen Lewis as Markus, Kevin's bully who is killed by Kevin for harassing him constantly (season 2)
• Mo'Nique as Goldie, Meech's new partner who stays in Atlanta (season 2)
• Donnell Rawlings as Alvin, Lamar's cousin (seasons 1-2)
• Mike Merrill as Ty Washington, Meech's partner who was later killed (season 2)
• Jason Louder as Remi Ransom (seasons 2–3) ^[6]
• Rayan Lawrence as K-9, Meech's loyal partner (season 2)
• 2 Chainz as Stacks (season 3)
• Ne-Yo as Rodney 'Greeny' Green (season 3)
• Lil Baby as Payne
• Bailey Tippen as Kitina "Tina" (seasons 2-3)
• Roberto Sanchez as Loco (season 3)
• Saweetie as Keeya (season 3)
• Cynthia Bailey as Gloria (season 3)
• Michael King as RIP (season 3)
• Ren King as Henrietta Andreas (season 3)
• Christopher B. Duncan as Frank "Blaze" Andreas (season 3)
• Kadianne Whyte as Angel (season 3)

Cameo appearances

• Eminem as White Boy Rick (season 1)
• Jalen Rose as Tariq (season 2)
• Mason Douglas^[7] as Tupac Shakur (season 3)
• Shilo Sanders as Deion Sanders (season 3)

Episodes

Season	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released
1	8		September 26, 2021 (2021-09-26)	November 21, 2021 (2021-11-21)
2	10		January 6, 2023 (2023-01-06)	March 17, 2023 (2023-03-17)
3	10		March 1, 2024 (2024-03-01)	May 10, 2024 (2024-05-10)

Season 1 (2021)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	1	"See It... Touch It... Obtain It"	Tasha Smith	Randy Huggins	September 26, 2021 (2021-09-26)	0.369[8]
2	2	"Rumors"	Tasha Smith	Terri Kopp	October 3, 2021 (2021-10-03)	0.386[9]
3	3	"Love All, Trust Few"	Solvan "Slick" Naim	Story by : Frank Renzulli Teleplay by : Randy Huggins	October 10, 2021 (2021-10-10)	0.368[10]
4	4	"Heroes"	Solvan "Slick" Naim	Patrick Moss	October 17, 2021 (2021-10-17)	0.303[11]
5	5	"Secrets and Lies"	Solvan "Slick" Naim	Kirkland Morris & Terri Kopp	October 24, 2021 (2021-10-24)	0.306[12]
6	6	"Strictly Business"	Eif Rivera	Randy Huggins & Kirkland Morris	October 31, 2021 (2021-10-31)	0.446[13]
7	7	"All in the Family"	Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson	Terri Kopp	November 7, 2021 (2021-11-07)	0.350[14]
8	8	"The King of Detroit"	Tasha Smith	Randy Huggins	November 21, 2021 (2021-11-21)	0.503[15]

Season 2 (2023)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	U.S. viewers (millions)
9	1	"Family Dinner"	Solvan "Slick" Naim	Randy Huggins	January 6, 2023 (2023-01-06)	0.170[16]
10	2	"Family Business"	Solvan "Slick" Naim	Heather Zuhlke	January 13, 2023 (2023-01-13)	0.210[17]
11	3	"Devil's Night"	Janice Cooke	Mike Nguyen Le	January 20, 2023 (2023-01-20)	N/A
12	4	"Runnin' On E"	Janice Cooke	Patrick Moss	January 27, 2023 (2023-01-27)	N/A
13	5	"Moment of Truth"	Eif Rivera	Jeff Dix	February 3, 2023 (2023-02-03)	N/A
14	6	"Homecoming"	Eif Rivera	Kirkland Morris	February 17, 2023 (2023-02-17)	N/A
15	7	"Both Sides of the Fence"	Crystle Roberson	Garen Thomas	February 24, 2023 (2023-02-24)	0.239[18]
16	8	"Push It to the Limit"	Crystle Roberson	Rose McAleese	March 3, 2023 (2023-03-03)	0.175[19]
17	9	"High Treason"	Timothy A. Burton	Heather Zuhlke & Shaquayla Mims	March 10, 2023 (2023-03-10)	0.263[20]
18	10	"New Beginnings"	Eif Rivera	Randy Huggins & Jazmen Darnell Brown	March 17, 2023 (2023-03-17)	0.319[21]

Season 3 (2024)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	U.S. viewers (millions)
19	1	"Detroit vs Everybody"	Timothy A. Burton	Heather Zuhlke	March 1, 2024 (2024-03-01)	0.250[22]
20	2	"Magic Makers"	Ruben Garcia	Kirkland Morris	March 8, 2024 (2024-03-08)	0.214[22]
21	3	"Sanctuary"	Cierra 'Shooter' Glaude	Jazmen Darnell Brown	March 15, 2024 (2024-03-15)	0.262[22]
22	4	"The Return of the Prodigal Son"	Princess Monique	Rose McAleese	March 22, 2024 (2024-03-22)	0.337[22]
23	5	"The Battle of Techwood"	Anton Cropper	Mike Nguyen Le	March 29, 2024 (2024-03-29)	0.220[22]
24	6	"Casualties of War"	Radium Cheung	Garen Thomas	April 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)	0.186[22]
25	7	"Get 'Em Home"	Russell Hornsby	Jeff Dix	April 12, 2024 (2024-04-12)	0.169[22]
26	8	"Code Red"	Crystle Roberson	Shaquayla Mims	April 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)	0.225[22]
27	9	"Death Trap"	Crystle Roberson	Patrick Moss	April 26, 2024 (2024-04-26)	0.246[22]
28	10	"Prime Time"	Timothy A. Burton	Tariq Simmons & Heather Zuhlke	May 10, 2024 (2024-05-10)	0.159[22]

Season 4 (2025)

Cierra 'Shooter' Glaude directed the sixth episode.^[23]

Production

Development

In July 2019, it was announced Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson had begun developing a television series revolving around Black Mafia Family, which he would executive produce for Starz.^[24] In April 2020, Starz greenlit the series. Production companies are slated to consist of Lionsgate Television and G-Unit Films and Television Inc.^[25] On September 30, 2021, Starz renewed the series for a second season only 4 days after the series' premiere.^[26] The second season premiered on January 6, 2023.^[27] On January 18, 2023, Starz renewed the series for a third season which premiered on March 1, 2024.^[28][1] On February 29, 2024, prior to the third season premiere, Starz renewed the series for a fourth season which is scheduled to premiere on June 6, 2025.^[2][3]

Casting

In December 2020, Russell Hornsby and Steve Harris joined the cast of the series, with Kash Doll set to star in a recurring role.^[29] In January 2021, Demetrius Flenory Jr., Da'Vinchi, Michole Briana White, Ajiona Alexus, Eric Kofi-Abrefa and Myles Truitt joined the cast in starring roles.^[30][31] In March 2021, Snoop Dogg, La La Anthony and Serayah joined the cast in recurring role.^[32] In September 2021, Sean Michael Gloria was cast in a recurring role.^[33] In March 2022, La La Anthony had been promoted to series regular while Kelly Hu was cast as a new series regular and Christine Horn and Leslie Jones joined the cast in a recurring role for the second season.^[4][5] In February 2023, 2 Chainz and Ne-Yo were cast in recurring roles for the third season.^[34][1]

Filming

Principal photography began in January 2021 with filming done in Atlanta and Detroit.^[31][35]

During production of season 3 in June 2023, producer Ian Woolf was suspended by Lionsgate following an incident involving Woolf threatening to run over striking writers who were picketing outside of BMF's production facility. Woolf allegedly admitted to trying to scare the writers after first claiming he did not see them, and was unsuccessful in allegedly pleading with Teamsters to cross the picket line.^[36]