Inspired by the real crime podcast Firebug, bestselling Boston author Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) wrote and scripted Smoke, a nine-part AppleTV+ series about arson investigators.
Taron Egerton, who played Elton John in Rocketman, plays Dave Gudsen, a fire investigator. Lehane and Smoke reunite after the fact-based television series Black Bird.
An opportunity like Dave Gudsen’s is a very lucrative one for any performer. However, I’m in a position where, as Egerton, 35, stated in a Zoom interview, I’ll do everything Dennis asks me to! Because I’m amazed at how creative he is.
Intense and relentless, Smoke describes how two serial arsonists have afflicted the Pacific Northwest for two years, and Gudsen, the arrogant arson investigator, has failed to apprehend, much less put an end to them. For this reason, Michelle Calderone, the detective for Jurnee Smollett, has been called in.
Dave becomes agitated by that, and his complexity soon becomes apparent. How prone he is to outbursts of anger and pitiful illusions. Is this puppy sick?
Yes, all of those things. Dave’s lack of self-connection is the first thing that comes to me when I think about him.
Self-reflection and introspection are abilities that every healthy adult possesses. able to assess oneself and set growth goals.
Dave isn’t capable of that. He views himself in absolutist terms and in terms of uncivilized archetypes.
I would therefore probably give ten somewhat contradictory answers if you were to ask me who I am. Dave would tell you that he is a hero. How could somebody possibly say that about themselves?
His ego is the only thing that governs him. His inability to reconcile the various aspects of himself has led him to develop this absurd coping technique. Destroying is part of that coping strategy. Dave is a guy of tragedy.
Even if Welsh Egerton’s American accent is flawless, it was more creative than accurate to portray this arson investigator.
On set, we had advisors who were really helpful in offering advice and demonstrating proper procedure. My character is the only one who is a little strange.
Therefore, I never thought it was crucial for Dave to be the most well-known arson investigator.
Because Dave isn’t someone who follows the rules when you truly understand him.
In the opening segment of the show, he explains his skill set. In addition, Dave would like to think of himself as a self-described outlaw.
Therefore, I didn’t obsess over protocol or process. To be honest, I always found it far more fascinating to see all the strange ways his mind is completely distorted.
The first two episodes of Smoke will be available on AppleTV+ on June 27.
