Smoke (TV series)

Last updated

Smoke
Smoke (TV series).jpg
Release poster
Genre Crime drama
Created by Dennis Lehane
Inspired byFirebug
by Truth Podcasting Corp.
Starring
Music byDanny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans
Opening theme"Dialing In" by Thom Yorke
Country of origin
  • Canada
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes9
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Molly Miller
  • David Diliberto
Cinematography
  • Sam McCurdy
  • François Dagenais
  • Todd McMullen
Editors
  • Plummy Tucker
  • Rob Bonz
  • John Petaja
  • Michael Costello
Running time42–65 minutes
Production companies
  • Truth Media
  • Crime Story
  • Imperative Entertainment
  • EDEN Productions
  • Hans Bubby
  • Apple Studios
Original release
Network Apple TV+
ReleaseJune 27 (2025-06-27) 
August 15, 2025 (2025-08-15)

Smoke is an American crime drama television miniseries created by Dennis Lehane, inspired by Firebug, a podcast about the crimes of arsonist John Leonard Orr. It premiered on Apple TV+ on June 27, 2025.

Contents

Premise

A detective and an arson investigator work together to stop two serial arsonists in the Pacific Northwest.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [1]
1"Pilot" Kari Skogland Dennis Lehane June 27, 2025 (2025-06-27) [a]
2"Your Happy Makes Me Sad" Joe Chappelle Dennis Lehane & Adriane McCrayJune 27, 2025 (2025-06-27) [a]
3"Weird Milk"Joe ChappelleMolly MillerJuly 4, 2025 (2025-07-04)
4"Strawberry"Joe ChappelleMolly Miller and Kary Antholis July 11, 2025 (2025-07-11)
5"Size Matters" Jim McKay Steven Hanna and Steve HarrisJuly 18, 2025 (2025-07-18)
6"Manhood"Jim McKayDennis LehaneJuly 25, 2025 (2025-07-25)
7"Whitewashed Tombs"Joe ChappelleTeleplay by: Dennis Lehane & Molly Miller
Story by: Steven Hanna & Adriane McCray
August 1, 2025 (2025-08-01)
8"Mercy"Jim McKayMolly MillerAugust 8, 2025 (2025-08-08)
9"Mirror, Mirror"Joe ChappelleDennis LehaneAugust 15, 2025 (2025-08-15)

Production

It was announced in December 2022 that Dennis Lehane and Taron Egerton, who had worked together on Apple TV+'s miniseries Black Bird , would reteam for Firebug, a new miniseries at Apple TV+, inspired by the crimes of arsonist John Leonard Orr. [4] In March 2024, Jurnee Smollett and John Leguizamo joined the cast, with Kari Skogland set to direct and executive produce the series. In addition to starring, Egerton serves as executive producer alongside Richard Plepler through Eden Productions, Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas through Imperative Entertainment, Joe Chappelle, Marc Smerling for Truth Podcasting Corp, Jane Bartelme and Kary Antholis for Crime Story Media, LLC. [5] [6] [1] Chappelle and Jim McKay also directed the episodes. [1] Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear, Ntare Mwine and Hannah Emily Anderson would be added to the cast in May. [7]

Filming began in Vancouver in March 2024. [8]

Release

The first two episodes of the series were shown at the 2025 Tribeca Festival on June 12, 2025. [2] [3] The series was retitled from Firebug to Smoke, and it premiered on June 27, 2025. [9]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 74% approval rating based on 53 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Smoke obscures its appeal with coy plotting until it eventually lights a fire under its story, but commanding turns from Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett keep this drama watchable throughout." [10] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 60 out of 100 based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable". [11]

Notes

      1. 1 2 This episode was first shown at the 2025 Tribeca Festival on June 12, 2025. [2] [3]

      References

      1. 1 2 3 "Apple TV+ unveils first look at gripping crime drama "Smoke," starring and executive produced by Taron Egerton and created by Dennis Lehane, premiering globally Friday, June 27, 2025". Apple TV+ Press. April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
      2. 1 2 "Smoke". Tribeca Festival . Retrieved June 18, 2025.
      3. 1 2 "Tribeca - Festival Guide - TV". Tribeca Festival . Retrieved June 18, 2025.
      4. Wiseman, Andreas; Andreeva, Nellie (December 8, 2022). "Taron Egerton Reteams With Denis Lehane, Richard Plepler, Imperative & Apple TV+ For Firebug Series Inspired By Notorious California Arsonist". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 15, 2023.
      5. Cordero, Rosy (March 13, 2024). "Jurnee Smollett To Star Alongside Taron Egerton In New Apple Drama Series Firebug". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved March 13, 2024.
      6. Petski, Denise (March 27, 2024). "John Leguizamo Joins Taron Egerton In Apple Drama Series Firebug; Kari Skogland To Direct & EP". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved March 27, 2024.
      7. Petski, Denise (May 6, 2024). "Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear Among 4 Cast In Apple Drama Series Firebug". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 6, 2024.
      8. Gittins, Susan (March 13, 2024). "FIREBUG With Taron Egerton & Jurnee Smollett Starts Shooting in Vancouver". Hollywood North Buzz. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
      9. Petski, Denise (April 15, 2025). "Taron Egerton & Dennis Lehane's Drama Series Smoke Gets Apple Premiere Date; First Photos". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
      10. "Smoke: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 19, 2025.
      11. "Smoke: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved July 3, 2025.