“It’s the American Dream by any means necessary,” proclaims Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker about what drives the ruthless power players on the Epix epic crime drama “Godfather of Harlem.” He says, “It’s all these people in this pot trying to do their best and to achieve a great life and a life that they believe is worthy.” Watch our exclusive video interview with Whitaker above.

See Will Forest Whitaker crash the Golden Globes as a menacing crime boss in Epix’s ‘Godfather of Harlem’?

In “Godfather of Harlem,” Whitaker plays real-life crime boss Bumpy Johnson, who returns from 10 years in prison to find the neighborhood he once controlled now run by the Italian mob. After reuniting with old friend Malcolm X (Nigel Thatch), Johnson aims to take back control of the streets 1960s Harlem, triggering a bloody feud with the powerful Genovese family who want to bring him down.