Smoke – Apple TV+ | June 27, 2025
Apple TV+ delivers a pulse-pounding crime drama with Smoke, premiering on June 27, 2025. Based on Dennis Lehane’s adaptation of the True Crime podcast Firebug, this limited series reunites Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett in a chilling, psychologically driven thriller set against the mist-shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest.
Plot Synopsis
Arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) is called to Portland after a string of devastating fires. Brutal property damage and suspicious fatalities hint at something more sinister than mere vandalism. When the body of a local firefighter is found in ashes, Gudsen’s department pairs him with Detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett), a tough-minded investigator grappling with personal loss.
As they follow scorched footprints across rain-soaked streets and charred wilderness, each clue only deepens the mystery: the firebugs may be a twisted duo with an ideological agenda—or worse, they could be hiding in plain sight within law enforcement itself.
Key Characters & Performances
- Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton)
A brilliant but haunted arson specialist whose own brother died in a blaze years before. Egerton brings emotional depth to a man tormented by guilt and obsession. - Det. Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett)
Forced to face the fragility of her own past, Calderone’s steel-nerved determination clashes and then coalesces with Gudsen’s intensity. Smollett’s layered performance captures a detective torn between duty and despair. - Esposito (John Leguizamo)
Gudsen’s seasoned mentor, offering both wisdom and warning as the investigation veers into dangerous territory. - Steven Burk (Rafe Spall)
A charismatic suspect whose public activism around urban redevelopment hides darker motives. - Harvey Englehart (Greg Kinnear)
A wealthy philanthropist funding fire-prevention initiatives—yet is he the savior he appears to be? - Freddy Fasano (Ntare Mwine) and Ashley Gudsen (Hannah Emily Anderson)
Supporting roles that add emotional stakes and unexpected twists to the narrative.
Creative & Production Team
- Created by: Dennis Lehane (author of Mystic River and Shutter Island)
- Inspired by: Firebug (Truth Podcasting Corp)
- Production Companies: EDEN Productions; Imperative Entertainment; Truth Podcasting Corp; Crime Story Media, LLC; Apple Studios
Under Lehane’s co-writing and producing eye, Smoke weaves true crime authenticity with cinematic flair—dark forests, flickering embers, and the pressurized intensity of a manhunt against time and nature.
Why Smoke Is Unmissable
- True Crime Roots: Fans of Firebug will recognize Lehane’s trademark storytelling—meticulous pacing, moral ambiguity, and explosive reveals.
- Dual Protagonists: The dynamic between Egerton’s brooding investigator and Smollett’s gritty detective fuels both conflict and camaraderie.
- Atmospheric Tension: From rain-soaked cityscapes to smoldering campgrounds, each location evokes an unsettling beauty and constant dread.
- Top-Tier Cast & Crew: With actors like John Leguizamo and Greg Kinnear in supporting roles, and Lehane guiding the narrative, Smoke promises quality and suspense in equal measure.
Prepare to step into the smoke and search for the spark of truth—Smoke drops all episodes on June 27, 2025, exclusively on Apple TV+.
