Smallscreen News

Kurt Sutter's tuned in ear to the underworld: Discovery's 'Outlaw Empires'

By April MacIntyre Apr 24, 2012, 18:30 GMT

Kurt Sutter to Discovery © Tina Gill / PR Photos

The creative force behind the hit FX drama "Sons of Anarchy" has taken his ear to the streets once again, but in a reality vein that exposes our baddest m*therf*ckers that reign and wreak havoc.

Discovery Channel smelled what actor, writer, director and producer Kurt Sutter was cooking, and have signed on for "Outlaw Empires," a real Goodfellas who are deadly serious and don't play nice.

This series premiees Monday, May 14 at 10PM ET/PT and is produced by Studio Lambert and Sutterink for Discovery.

Sutter walks viewers into the realm of the gangs and families who have dominated the streets of the USA, and helped shape our nation’s history.

From Discovery

Steered by Sutter’s compelling insight, each episode of KURT SUTTER’S OUTLAW EMPIRES tells the complete story of an iconic American outlaw dynasty – directly from the mouths of people from the inside.

Through their no-holds-barred accounts, the series takes an unvarnished look at moment-by-moment experiences that were not only pivotal for the organizations themselves, but life-changing for the individuals telling the stories.

Says executive producer Sutter, “I’ve made a career writing about fictitious anti-heroes. To create these worlds, I’ve spent a lot of time with active members on both sides of the law. And if I had to pick the most interesting of the two, the choice is obvious – we all love the guys in black.” 

He continues, “This isn’t about making a judgment call on who’s good or bad. As a storyteller, I’m drawn to these personal, intimate accounts of why these men made the choices they made, and what it’s like to be a member of an outlaw organization.”

Featured in KURT SUTTER’S OUTLAW EMPIRES:

·         Crips:  One of the most violent and feared gangs in America, they started as a group of young boys determined to protect their turf & build their pride. How they grew, turned on each other, became corrupt & exploded is one of the most fascinating tales in American history.  Premieres Monday, May 14 at 10PM ET/PT.

·         Outlaw Bikers: Two generations of veterans returned from war to an America they no longer fit into. So they banded together around motorcycles, and spawned an outlaw dynasty that endures to this day.

·         Irish Mob:  At the core of every outlaw empire is the fundamental cornerstone of loyalty. But history shows that when loyalty fails, so does the empire. In the case of the Irish mob, the ultimate betrayal came when their leader turned out to be an FBI informant.

·         Nuestra Familia: Members of this Latin group, forged in the California prison system, perfected a level of violence unparalleled in any gang. Their ultraviolence has become not only a method to control others and even their own members, but a badge of honor.

·         Italian Mafia:  They’re the most notorious crime family in America, bound by blood and family. How they grew to become the country’s most powerful crime syndicate, only to be taken down by their own members, is one of the most gripping tales in our history.

·         Aryan Brotherhood:  An outlaw empire will succeed only if its members become united behind some commonality. Few ideas could be more potent than that of the white supremacist movement in America.