Emmy-nominated actress Jurnee Smollett is set to lead her first television series in four years.
The 37-year-old actress has signed on to star alongside Taron Egerton in an Apple original drama called “Firebug” in which she’ll play Michelle, a rising young detective hot on the trail of a suspected serial arsonist.
Loosely inspired by real life events pertaining to California arsonist John Leonard Orr, the series is set in the modern day pacific northwest and takes a look at events documented in truth.media’s popular “Firebug” podcast about Orr. In 1992, the arson investigator and fire captain was convicted of murder and being a serial arsonist.
In addition to starring in the series, Egerton will also executive produce the project alongside its writer and developer, Dennis Lehane, and Marc Smerling, who produces the podcast that inspired the series.
Though Smollet has been away from the world of television since 2020’s critically acclaimed sci-fi horror, “Lovecraft Country” with Jonathan Majors, the New York City native has been beyond busy in movies last appearing in 2023’s The Burial with Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones, as well as the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards best feature nominee, the indie drama, We Grown Now.
Smollett will next be seen in crime thriller The Order with Jude Law.
“Firebug” is tentatively set for release in late 2024.
