When Taron Egerton first signed on for the lead role in the new Apple TV+ series Smoke, he had no idea just how shocking the story behind the show would be. The crime drama, now available on the streaming platform, takes viewers deep into the chilling true story of a notorious serial arsonist. But even the actor behind the role was left stunned by the real-life events that inspired the show.
A fascinating yet disturbing role
Smoke is based on the podcast Firebug, which explores the disturbing crimes of John Orr, a fire captain and serial arsonist who terrorized Southern California between 1980 and 1990. While Egerton had no prior knowledge of Orr’s story or the podcast before being offered the role, he was immediately captivated by the complex and unsettling nature of the character he would be portraying.
In an interview, Egerton shared his initial reaction: “There were so many things I learned that were truly disturbing, but it was also hard to digest because his behavior was so strange,” he explained. The deeper he got into the role, the more he realized just how challenging it would be to bring this complicated character to life. He described it as a “real challenge” to create a coherent and believable portrayal of Orr, given the bizarre and unsettling nature of the real-life events.
A unique and different role for Egerton
In Smoke, Egerton plays an investigator specializing in arson cases, working alongside a detective (played by Jurnee Smollett) to track down the elusive pyromaniac. According to Egerton, the role was unlike anything he had played before. “It’s a fascinating role. It’s so different from anything I’ve been asked to play in the past, or anything I’ve seen on TV before,” he said. The series offers a fresh perspective on the crime genre, blending suspense with the dark psychological depth of its characters.
Egerton’s performance in this role pushes him out of his comfort zone and explores the chilling motivations behind the arsonist’s crimes. As the series unfolds, Egerton’s character must navigate the complex emotional landscape of dealing with a seemingly irrational and dangerous individual, all while uncovering the secrets behind the fires.
With two episodes already available and a new one being released weekly until mid-August, Smoke is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as they uncover the gripping true story of John Orr and the hunt to stop his reign of terror.
Smoke serves not only as a fascinating crime drama but also as a reflection on the nature of criminal psychology, with Egerton’s performance highlighting the unsettling reality behind real-life criminal investigations.
