In case you’re a film buff, chances are high you realize who Ridley Scott is – and actually, even if you happen to’re not, you in all probability know Ridley Scott’s finest motion pictures. The director is legendary for a number of the largest movies of the final forty years, like Alien, Gladiator and, in fact, the sequel Gladiator II. Peter Craig, one of many story writers on Gladiator II, determined to maneuver over to tv for the creation of Dope Thief, a TV adaptation of the novel – and Ridley Scott joined him for the experience.
The 2025 TV schedule is stuffed to the brim with new reveals, however Dope Thief was not one I used to be anticipating to like. I had the possibility to talk to Craig earlier than the premiere of the present. Once I came upon that Ridley Scott really directed the primary episode, I knew I needed to ask how that occurred. Craig was sincere and mentioned that it was simply the proper time, particularly since a former movie that the 2 had been working collectively on fell aside:
I simply had a extremely opportune second. So we have been making an attempt to work on a film a couple of battle photographer for a very long time. It was proper about to go, a extremely good forged that I will not go into ‘trigger I believe you are not alleged to do these issues. However Ridley and I had been enthusiastic about it. We would been working actually intently on the script, after which it is a type of issues the place you generally simply lose your financing on the final second. The film fell aside.
Craig commented that the well-known director “likes to work,” and that when bringing him on for the premiere episode, it was only a easy dialog. There was “no courtship” or something to attempt to persuade him:
Ridley loves the work. He is at his happiest when he’s working, and I simply confirmed him this pilot that I had proper as that occurred. I used to be like, ‘Oh, we’ll see if you happen to like this.’ He liked it straight away. He obtained the darkish humor of it. Ridley at all times sort of needs to do extra darkish humor than he does. And so we went to work straight away. I imply, there was really no fanfare. There was no course of. There was no courtship. He was simply in. After which we went to work collectively on this.
Contemplating this was Scott and Craig’s first collaboration on tv, they went all in. It is actually one of the energetic and blood-pumping premiere episodes I’ve seen in a lengthy time. To me, Dope Thief may simply turn into among the best Apple TV+ reveals.
However it’s not like Craig hasn’t had vital success earlier than due to his tales. Craig has been the screenwriter behind many big movies in Hollywood. He co-wrote the screenplays for the final two The Starvation Video games movies, i.e. each components of Mockingjay. He additionally co-wrote among the best live-action Batman motion pictures, The Batman, alongside director Matt Reeves. He even wrote the story for High Gun: Maverick, a movie that everybody loved, and now, followers need High Gun 3.
It is not that stunning that his first present on tv would find yourself changing into wonderful, particularly with the crew and forged that he has behind him. Such stars of Dope Thief embody Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta), Wagner Moura (Civil Warfare), Kate Mulgrew (the Orange is the New Black forged) and extra. With eight episodes, I’ve a sense it is solely going to be the condensed, action-packed present that persons are begging for – coming from somebody who has seen all eight of them.
Dope Thief premieres its first two episodes on March 14, which you’ll be able to entry with an Apple TV+ subscription.