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Smoke is Inspired by True Events: What to Know About Apple TV's Summer Crime Drama
- TalkTeaV
- Jun 8
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
A wave of arson shapes this tense Apple TV+ limited series
Apple TV+ is bringing a new drama to the screen this summer with Smoke, a limited series created by Black Bird writer Dennis Lehane. The show premieres Friday, June 27, 2025, with its first two episodes on Apple TV+, followed by weekly releases through August 15.
Inspired by the real-life case of convicted arsonist John Leonard Orr and the Firebug podcast, Smoke follows Taron Egerton as Dave Gudsen, an arson investigator pulled into a high-stakes manhunt. He’s forced to partner with police detective Michelle Calderone, played by Jurnee Smollett, as they chase down two serial arsonists whose trail leaves more than just scorched buildings behind.
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Image of Taron Egerton as Dave Gudsen and Jurnee Smollett as Michelle Calderone in Smoke: Courtesy of Apple TV
The investigation unfolds in the Pacific Northwest, but the series was filmed in Vancouver. Egerton and Smollett are backed by a heavyweight ensemble that includes Greg Kinnear, John Leguizamo, Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Anna Chlumsky, and Adina Porter. As with Black Bird, the cast leans hard into character-driven performances rather than surface thrills.
Thom Yorke composed the show’s main title theme, Dialing In, which is already streaming on Apple Music and other platforms. It’s a haunting track that mirrors the show’s tone.
Produced by Apple Studios, Smoke is executive produced by Dennis Lehane, Taron Egerton, and Richard Plepler of EDEN Productions. The series marks another step in Apple TV+’s push into prestige true-crime dramas, and it has the names and the premise to carry that weight.
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