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. On February 29, 2024, ahead of the third season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season.

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. This is a story about love, betrayal, and thug-capitalism in the pursuit of the American dream.

Main

 * Demetrius Flenory Jr. as Demetrius "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)
 * Ajiona Alexus as Katherine "Kato" Eder (season 1)
 * Myles Truitt as B-Mickie, Meech & Terry's childhood friend and partner (seasons 1–2).
 * 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; main season 2–present)
 * Kelly Hu as Detective Veronica Jin, Detective Bryant's partner (season 2–present)

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
 * Tyshown 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)
 * Leslie Jones as Federal Agent Tracy Chambers (season 2)
 * Caresha Romeka Brownee as Deanna Washington, Ty Washington's Wife (season 2)
 * Jerel Alston as Kevin Bryant, Detective Bryant's son (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 (season 2)
 * Mike Merrill as Ty Washington, Meech's partner who was later killed (season 2)
 * Jason Louder as Remi Ransom (seasons 2–3)
 * 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" (season 3)
 * Saweetie as Keeya (season 3)
 * Cynthia Bailey as Gloria (season 3)
 * Michael King as RIP (season 3)
 * Christopher B. Duncan as Frank "Blaze" Andreas (season 3)

Cameo appearances

 * Eminem as White Boy Rick (season 1)
 * Jalen Rose as Tariq (season 2)
 * Mason Douglas as Tupac Shakur (season 3)
 * Shilo Sanders as Deion Sanders (season 3)

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. In April 2020, Starz greenlit the series. Production companies are slated to consist of Lionsgate Television and G-Unit Films and Television Inc. On September 30, 2021, Starz renewed the series for a second season only 4 days after the series' premiere. The second season premiered on January 6, 2023. On January 18, 2023, Starz renewed the series for a third season which premiered on March 1, 2024.

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. 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. In March 2021, Snoop Dogg, La La Anthony and Serayah joined the cast in recurring role. In September 2021, Sean Michael Gloria was cast in a recurring role. 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. In February 2023, 2 Chainz and Ne-Yo were cast in recurring roles for the third season.

Filming
Principal photography began in January 2021 with filming done in Atlanta and Detroit.

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.