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Smoke (2025) show: What you need to know About the Taron Egerton-led Arson Drama Based on a true Story
Apple TV+ has just turned up the heat with the official trailer for Smoke, a chilling new crime drama led by Emmy nominee Taron Egerton. The intense trailer hints at dark secrets, dangerous suspects, and explosive tension — literally. Egerton returns to the crime genre after his acclaimed turn in Black Bird, and this time, he's paired with Birds of Prey star Jurnee Smollett for a pulse-pounding manhunt.
From the creative mind behind Shutter Island and Gone Baby Gone, Smoke brings together a powerhouse cast including Greg Kinnear and Rafe Spall. With Egerton also serving as executive producer, expectations are sky-high — and the trailer doesn’t disappoint. The mood is heavy, the stakes are lethal, and every frame teases a mystery just waiting to unravel.
Curious who’s chasing the flames, what inspired the story, and how to follow the unraveling chaos? We’ve got the scoop on the cast, release format, creators, true story inspiration, and more. Stick with us — we’re tracking every update and dropping fresh intel as soon as it sparks.
Release date & Where to Watch
Smoke premieres worldwide on Apple TV+ on Friday, June 27, 2025, with its first two episodes dropping together. The nine-episode series will then continue with new episodes released every Friday, leading up to the finale on Aug. 15, 2025.
What is the plot of Smoke?
Smoke is a tense nine-episode crime drama that centers on a relentless pursuit of justice, as two very different investigators are forced to work together. Taron Egerton plays Dave Gudsen, a seasoned arson expert with a sharp edge and a guarded past, while Jurnee Smollett portrays Michelle Calderone, a determined but haunted detective new to the world of arson cases. When a series of deadly fires erupt across the city, the unlikely duo must put aside their differences to track down two elusive serial arsonists.
The series draws inspiration from real events and quickly spirals into a gripping psychological game. As the investigators close in on their suspects, the investigation exposes more than just the culprits—it unearths buried secrets, tangled motives, and dangerous truths that threaten to consume them both.
While the full extent of the mystery remains tightly under wraps, Smoke promises to be an addictive slow-burn thriller—one that blends brooding character studies with high-stakes suspense. With its troubled leads and smoldering tension, this one already has the makings of a must-watch crime classic.
Who’s in the cast of Smoke?
- Taron Egerton (Carry-On) as arson investigator Dave Gudsen
- Jurnee Smollett (Birds of Prey, Spiderhead) as police detective Michelle Calderone
- John Leguizamo (Ice Age, Encanto) as Esposito
- Rafe Spall (Trying) as Steven Burk
- Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine) as Harvey Englehart
- Ntare Mwine (Memories of Love Returned) as Freddy Fasano
- Hannah Emily Anderson (The Purge, Jigsaw) as Ashley Gudsen
- Adina Porter (The Last Word) as Brenda Cephus
- Dakota Daulby as Lee
- Michael Buie as Gerard
- Anna Chlumsky (Inventing Anna)
Is There a Trailer for Smoke?
The trailer opens with Taron Egerton’s Dave Gudsen, a sharp yet emotionally scarred arson investigator. Tasked with stopping a wave of escalating fires, Dave brings a mix of intensity and cynicism to the job. His deep psychological understanding of firestarters cuts through early on when he warns: “Serial arsonists tend to be powerless in their own lives. They want other people to know what that feels like.”
Jurnee Smollett’s Detective Michelle Calderon is introduced as Dave’s new partner, but trust doesn’t come easily. Dave immediately questions her qualifications, “You don’t know anything about arson.” Still, the two must race to connect the dots before the next fire takes more lives — a deadly countdown the trailer emphasizes with pulsing edits and urgency.
Haunting visuals of blazes consuming buildings and ominous silhouettes hint at a much deeper conspiracy. As the team struggles to track two suspected arsonists, the line between good and evil blurs. We glimpse the emotional toll of the case on Dave, suggesting past trauma may be fueling his obsession — or clouding his judgment.
The trailer promises a fiery psychological thriller packed with suspense, mistrust, and the constant threat of devastation. With explosive dialogue and a tense atmosphere, Smoke is already fanning the flames of anticipation.
Episode Titles
- Season 1 Episode 1 (Friday, June 27, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 2 (Friday, June 27, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 3 (Friday, July 4, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 4 (Friday, July 11, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 5 (Friday, July 18, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 6 (Friday, July 25, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 7 (Friday, Aug. 1, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 8 (Friday, Aug. 8, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 9 (Friday, Aug. 15, 2025)
Is Smoke Based on a true Story?
According to Apple TV+, Smoke is inspired by true events and draws directly from truth.media’s 2021 podcast Firebug, hosted by Kary Antholis. The podcast investigates the chilling case of a serial arsonist who terrorized Southern California for a decade, setting fires in broad daylight that ultimately killed four people. The shocking twist? The culprit turned out to be a firefighter. As per TIME, this is what happened to him:
"Law enforcement homed in on John Orr, a former fire captain whose fingerprint was found on a partially unburned incendiary device. A federal jury convicted him in 1992 on three counts of arson, sentencing him to 30 years in prison. The following year, he admitted to setting three more fires. In 1998, Orr was tried again at the state level on 21 additional counts of arson and four counts of first-degree murder for the victims of the 1984 blaze at Ole’s Home Center in South Pasadena, Calif. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole."
Filming Details
Production on Smoke kicked off in Vancouver on March 13, 2024, and went till July 31, 2024 (via Hollywood North Buzz).
Behind the Scenes
Smoke is directed by Kari Skogland, Joe Chappelle, and Jim McKay, and hails from Apple Studios. The show was created and written by Black Bird creator Dennis Lehane, who serves as executive producer alongside Taron Egerton. Kary Antholis executive produces through Crime Story Media, LLC.
Egerton not only stars in the series but also executive produces through EDEN Productions, alongside Richard Plepler, Bradley Thomas, and Dan Friedkin of Imperative Entertainment, with Kari Skogland, Joe Chappelle, Jane Bartelme, and Marc Smerling of Truth Podcasting Corp.
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