People are drawn to sensational stories, which is why we love crime dramas. We’re naturally curious about the psychology of criminal behavior, the individual’s motivation to commit crimes, and how justice and legal systems work. This is why shows like Breaking Bad, Narcos, El Chapo, and Queen of the South were so popular: they feature a sensational story with a complex plot, few good twists, and a smidge of character development. It works, so there’s really no need to change the recipe.
Well, Apple+ just announced a new arrival to the land of crime dramas, the upcoming Dope Thief, produced by Ridley Scott. Based on Dennis Tafoya’s book of the same name, the plot follows longtime friends Ray and Manny — portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura — who pose as DEA agents to scam and steal from small-time drug dealers in Philadelphia. It’s a fantastic plan, as Henry’s character explained, because the dealers never look at the agent’s face, as all they can see is the badge they’re carrying.
However, things don’t always go as planned. Regardless of how great the plan really is, both Ray and Manny quickly find themselves in dangerous territory when they inadvertently target the biggest narcotics corridor on the Eastern seaboard. Of course, those in the drug trade don’t really approve of what Ray and Manny have been doing (there’s an understatement), so they come after the two, looking for revenge.
This is where Ray and Manny’s small-time grift becomes a life-and-death enterprise, as they’re desperately trying to stay ahead of the real DEA while simultaneously fending off the cartel they mistakenly crossed. However, the trailer for the show also reveals that Dope Thief isn’t just another adrenaline-filled high-stakes heist-gone-wrong story but a full-blown descent into chaos and an exploration of the emotional and systemic challenges of substance abuse, particularly for those from marginalized communities.
Judging by the trailer, Henry conveys the same depth and vulnerability to the character of Ray as he did for Paper Boi in Atlanta. His ability to convey both the strength and fragility of Paper Boi made the character one of the standout roles in the series and earned Henry widespread acclaim. It’s easy to see, from the trailer alone, that he’s the perfect choice for the role, as he captures the inner turmoil of a man trapped not only by his own choices but also by a society that has historically failed to support people associated with substances or struggling with addiction.
In an interview with BGN, Henry explained, “When it comes to the land of sobriety and recovery, people of color are very often left out. They never really talk about what it’s like for us to deal with addiction. We become statistics before we become stories of success and recovery, and so, for me, I really wanted to reflect that.” His words seem to resonate throughout Dope Thief, showcasing that addiction isn’t merely an individual’s problem or their shortcoming but a reflection of broader societal and economic neglect — something echoed in the Rat Park experiment.
So, while the series provides plenty in terms of thrilling action, it also challenges the audiences to look beyond the surface-level action and consider the emotional weight of systemic failure. It’s a hard look at how economic disparities, limited access to healthcare and education, and societal stigma create an environment where addiction (and crime) becomes a near-inescapable cycle. The series refuses to paint addition with a broad brush, opting instead to reveal the intricate correlations between individual trauma and systemic failures.
Behind the cameras, Dope Thief marks Ridley Scott and Peter Craig’s second collaboration after their work on the story for Gladiator II. Ridley Scott is best known for his blockbuster movies, such as the original Gladiator, The Martian, and, of course, Alien. But he has prior television experience, as he also exec produced The Man in the High Castle and directed the cut-too-short Raised by Wolfs — which is an absolute delight if you’re a fan of his work.
Dope Thief is also Peter Craig’s television debut; the American novelist and screenwriter is best known for his work on film, having written movies like The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick, and The Town. While small and silver screen content are inherently different in terms of pacing and storytelling, choosing to adapt Dope Thief into a television series rather than a movie might be a good choice, and there’s little reason to believe that Scott and Craig will bring nothing but their very best to the series.
Three years ago today, The Batman was released in theaters. Peter Craig, who wrote the script for the film, mentioned his interview with BGN how The Batman best prepared him to write Dope Thief. Check out the video below to see more about why.
In the end, while the trailer for Dope Thief is packed with guns and high-speed chases, the story and themes seem to go beyond just pulse-pounding action, going as far as to blur the lines between right and wrong while asking tough moral questions through the desperate choices made by its lead characters.
Dope Thief will debut its first two episodes on March 14, followed by a new episode every Friday through April 25.