FULL SERIES AVAILABLE NOW

We Own This City

1 Season | 6 Episodes | TV-MA

Executive produced by George Pelecanos (The Deuce) and David Simon (The Wire) -- and based on the book by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton -- We Own This City is a six-hour, limited series chronicling the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force. It examines the corruption and moral collapse that befell an American city in which the policies of drug prohibition and mass arrest were championed at the expense of actual police work.

The cast includes Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead, Show Me a Hero), Josh Charles (The Good Wife, In Treatment), Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country), and Jamie Hector (BOSCH, The Wire), among many others. See the full cast here.

Pelecanos and Simon also serve as writers. Reinaldo Marcus Green directs and serves as executive producer. They are joined by longtime collaborators Nina K. Noble as executive producer, and Ed Burns as writer/executive producer. HBO alum Kary Antholis also serves as executive producer; Bill Zorzi as writer/co-executive producer, and D. Watkins as writer.

Featured Characters

Looking for more? See the full list of We Own This City cast and characters here.

Sgt. Wayne Jenkins
Jon Bernthal
Daniel Hersl
Josh Charles
Nicole Steele
Wunmi Mosaku
Sean M. Suiter
Jamie Hector
Jemell Rayam
Darrell Britt-Gibson

We Own This City Podcast

The official podcast of the HBO Original Limited Series. Over six episodes, host D. Watkins will share his experiences in and out of the writers’ room and speak to the people who brought this story to the screen. Podcast episodes are available each week right after the latest episode.

LISTEN NOW

Dive Deeper

6:39
BEHIND THE SCENES
Making We Own This City
The creators, cast, and crew discuss the rigorous research and attention to detail that went into bringing this true story to life in Baltimore.
2:58
BEHIND THE SCENES
Invitation to Set
Executive producers George Pelecanos, David Simon, cast, and crew go behind the scenes.
3:06
BEHIND THE SCENES
Returning to Baltimore
The cast and crew explore Baltimore as a character, touching on the real people and locations portrayed in the series.
3:13
BEHIND THE SCENES
Adapting the Story
Director Reinaldo Marcus Green and writer D. Watkins, along with George Pelecanos and David Simon, discuss the importance of accuracy and authenticity when creating this series based on true events.
4:24
INTERVIEW
In Conversation
Actor Darrell Britt-Gibson (Jemell Rayam) and technical adviser Detective Andres Severino sit down together to talk about the friendship they formed while making We Own This City, and how working together opened their eyes to new perspectives.

Celebrating 20 Years of The Wire

Created by David Simon, this seminal series explores the world of crime in Baltimore through the lenses of both civilians and law enforcement.

FIND OUT MORE

Community Partners

The presence of a local filmmaking community can have a positive impact on citizens and neighborhoods. HBO’s We Own This City Production team is proud to be working with many local Baltimore non-profits to create positive change in the communities where we filmed.

The mission of the Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA) is to develop, promote, and sponsor trusted culturally-relevant educational forums, training, and referral services that support the health and well-being of Black people and vulnerable communities.
The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) is the largest companion animal shelter in Maryland. Visitors come to BARCS every day for reasons as diverse as reuniting with lost pets, adopting new furry family members, joining our foster and volunteer programs, and receiving free and low-cost resources to help them keep their pets at home.
Sharp Dressed Man is the only program of its kind in the greater Baltimore area. The program serves men in re-entry, addiction recovery, and veterans returning to the workforce.
Through media arts education, Wide Angle Youth Media cultivates and amplifies the voices of Baltimore youth to engage audiences across generational, cultural, and social divides.
ReBUILD Metro is a community change organization that revitalizes historically redlined neighborhoods of East Baltimore without displacing their legacy residents.
The Baltimore Furniture Bank is a nonprofit organization in Baltimore City, fiscally sponsored by Fusion Partnerships, Inc. They connect people in need with high quality used furniture and household goods, helping them to establish a sense of pride and stability.
With a mission to improve Baltimore through green space and education, Parks & People believes that everyone deserves a park as a place to learn, play, grow and enjoy.

Filmed in Maryland: www.MarylandFilm.org

1.Part One

Momodu Gondo finds himself in an interrogation. A detective in a nearby county traces a string of overdoses to Baltimore.

2.Part Two

Jenkins learns stark truths about policing as a new officer. Rayam opens up about the GTTF. Suiter is assigned to a new murder case.

3.Part Three

Despite numerous complaints, Hersl is placed on the GTTF. Jensen monitors Gondo's calls. Jenkins brings Suiter along on a raid.

4.Part Four

Maurice Ward recounts how Jenkins remained unscathed despite several illegal incidents. Baltimore is rocked by the Freddie Gray protests.

5.Part Five

Suiter faces distrust of the police at a crime scene. The GTTF officers provide additional damning evidence. The Feds prepare charges.

6.Part Six

Jenkins learns his fellow officers are cooperating with the investigation as the full extent of his crimes come to light.

More From the Creators

The Wire
Show Me A Hero
Generation Kill
The Deuce

Stream all of HBO, plus hit series, movies, reality, and more.

Sign Up Now