Author and screenwriter Dennis Lehane has a healthy respect for the power of fire. He learned that the hard way — surviving a house fire in Boston in his 30s. Lehane was living on the top floor of an apartment building when a propane tank on the roof exploded and started a blaze.

On their trail we find the arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) and Det. Michell Calderon (Jurnee Smollett). The nine-episode series co-stars John Leguizamo and Greg Kinnear. It's based on the podcast "Firebug," about the real-life arsonist John Leonard Orr.

Yes! Smoke on Apple TV+ is inspired by a true story, specifically the one told through truth.media’s acclaimed Firebug podcast, hosted by Oscar and Emmy winner Kary Antholis, who not only served as an executive producer on Black Bird, but is also an EP on Smoke for Crime Story Media, LLC. and credited with writing Episode 4 of the series.