Dope Thief: Everything You Need to Know About Ridley Scott’s Apple TV+ Crime Series

From Apple TV+ comes Dope Thief, an eight-episode dive into Philadelphia’s criminal underground that turns a simple scam into a deadly game of survival.

Who’s in the Dope Thief Cast?

Brian Tyree Henry leads this new crime drama, marking his first major TV role since Atlanta.

Beyond just starring, Henry steps behind the scenes as executive producer, shaping the story of two friends whose clever scam backfires spectacularly.

The complete Dope Thief cast lineup:

Brian Tyree Henry
Wagner Moura
Marin Ireland
Kate Mulgrew
Nesta Cooper
Amir Arison
Dustin Nguyen
Ving Rhames (Golden Globe winner)

When Does Dope Thief Come Out?

Mark your calendars: Dope Thief premieres March 14, 2025, on Apple TV+.

The first two episodes drop together, followed by weekly releases until April 25. That’s eight episodes total of Philadelphia-bred tension.

What is Dope Thief About?

Based on Dennis Tafoya’s 2009 novel, the series follows lifetime Philly friends who pose as DEA agents to rob what they think is just another house in the countryside.

Instead, they accidentally stumble onto the Eastern Seaboard’s biggest hidden drug corridor.

The stakes become brutally clear in the official trailer:

As the trailer ominously warns: “You took our money and dope. Now I have to kill everybody you know.”

Is Ridley Scott Directing Dope Thief?

Fresh from Gladiator II, Ridley Scott directs the pilot episode and serves as executive producer.

The series comes from Scott Free Productions, the same company behind The Good Wife and The Terror.

Academy Award nominee Peter Craig adapts Tafoya’s book for television.

How Can I Watch Dope Thief?

Dope Thief will stream exclusively on Apple TV+. You’ll need a subscription to watch, which includes access to Apple’s full library of original series and films.

Why Should I Watch Dope Thief?

For Ridley Scott fans, this marks his return to American crime storytelling, territory he previously explored in American Gangster and The Counselor.

For Brian Tyree Henry followers, it’s a chance to see the Emmy, Tony, and Academy Award nominee tackle his most complex role yet.

The series marks a significant shift in Apple TV+’s crime drama catalogue, joining but distinctly separating itself from shows like Slow Horses and Black Bird.

While those series excel in institutional corruption, Dope Thief explores the intimate betrayals that fuel street-level crime.

The show brings Philadelphia’s criminal underworld to life through Scott’s distinctive visual style and Craig’s sharp adaptation of Tafoya’s novel.

Unlike many contemporary crime dramas that favour sleek sophistication, Dope Thief delves into the messy reality of street-level hustles gone wrong.