Brian Tyree Henry, Wagner Moura, & Showrunner Peter Craig Talk Crime, Trust, Upcoming Projects, & Gotham Crossovers [Bingeworthy Podcast]

On this episode of Bingeworthy, we’re heading to the grimy, drug-running underworld of “Dope Thief,” a gritty Apple TV+ miniseries based on Dennis Tafoya’s novel, which airs its finale today, on Friday, April 25th. The show follows Ray and Manny, two longtime friends and low-level criminals from Philadelphia who impersonate DEA agents to knock over drug stash houses. But when one job unexpectedly exposes a hidden narcotics pipeline along the Eastern Seaboard, their small-time hustle spirals into a life-or-death game of survival and consequence.

Brian Tyree Henry stars as Ray, a recovering addict struggling to escape his past while trying to stay one step ahead of increasingly dangerous enemies. Wagner Moura plays Manny, a charming but unpredictable wildcard whose deep bond with Ray is tested by every bad decision they make. The series, written and created by Peter Craig (“The Town,” “The Batman”), also stars Marin Ireland, Nesta Cooper, and Ving Rhames, with executive producer Ridley Scott directing the first episode.

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Joining the Bingeworthy podcast to discuss the series are showrunner Peter Craig and stars Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura. Henry, who also serves as executive producer, described stepping into a leadership role as creatively liberating. “Being an EP was like a new kind of addiction, man,” Henry said. “I realized that there were a lot of movies and TV shows that I’ve contributed to in all different kinds of ways… And at least here I got to go, ‘You know what? I felt my stamp was there.” He made a point to uplift the entire cast and crew, adding, “I wanted to be the person that was there before everyone and the last to leave. Because I believed in the show so much.”

For Moura, joining the series was a whirlwind, as he replaced actor Michael Mando, who was immediately fired after an on-set altercation. “I got this phone call on Friday, and I was shooting on Monday,” he recalled. “I was terrified. If it wasn’t for Brian, I don’t know what would have happened.” Moura credits his co-star’s grounded presence with helping him find Manny quickly: “When I was in the scene with him, I was looking in his eyes and I was like, ‘Okay, this is all I need. Let’s do it.”

Peter Craig, making his showrunning debut after writing screenplays like “The Batman” and “The Town,” said the opportunity to flesh out ordinarily abandoned, small-time characters was what drew him to the adaptation. “This would usually be the bag man and the driver [in a film],” he explained. “I wanted to do this kind of ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’ version of it, where you really tell the whole crime story through people that normally aren’t the lead.”

He also spoke about the addictive chaos of showrunning. “It’s basically parenting,” Craig said. “You’re always going to sort of fail a little bit, but at least you’re doing the best you can.”

As for directing an episode himself, Craig said he was initially overwhelmed: “Everybody said, ‘This is crazy… We still need you as a showrunner.” But he found clarity when he stepped behind the camera for the finale. “It was actually kind of a relief… I loved the singularity of focus.”

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Craig also discussed his time co-writing “The Batman” with Matt Reeves, calling it one of his life’s most formative creative experiences and an essential step in working up to “Dope Thief.” “I wouldn’t have been able to do ‘Dope Thief’ if I hadn’t done [The Batman] with Matt,” he said. Craig also confirmed he’s not involved in the anticipated sequel to “The Batman,” saying, “Matt’s doing this one with Mattson [Tomlin]… [the first one] was about nine months of him and me all day, every day in a room together on the first one. I was both thrilled with that experience and worn out. So was Matt.” It sounds like he just didn’t have the mental energy to continue.

And if you’re wondering whether criminals like Dope Thief’s Ray and Manny could survive in Gotham, Craig has considered it: “There are a lot of places to hide in Gotham. And that’s actually what they’re very good at. They’re okay at keeping off the grid as long as they stay in Philly,” Craig said. “As long as they stayed in Gotham, they might be able to use the messiness. And then it also depends on who they allied with, because they’re unusually trusting sometimes for guys that are con men themselves. So if they came across the Penguin, it would probably not be very long. But if they came across Catwoman, maybe they’d do okay.”

As for Moura and Henry, they’re working together again in the film, “Last Night at the Lobster,” which Moura will also direct. Moura also teased his next acting gig in Louis Letterier’s next film, “11817,” which Moura teased, “It’s a sci-fi film with four actors only,” Moura said. “It’s me, Greta Lee, and two kids. And it’s about a family that gets trapped in a house by a mysterious force.”

“Dope Thief” is now streaming on Apple TV+. Listen to the podcast below.

The Playlist Presents: Peter Craig, Wagner Moura, and Brian Tyree Henry’s Crime Film/TV Recommendation Playlist:

• “Pulp Fiction” (1994) –  Brian Tyree Henry’s Pick
• “Juice” (1992) – Brian Tyree Henry’s Pick
• “Serpico” (1973) – Wagner Moura’s Pick
• “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975) – Peter Craig’s Pick
• “The Wire” (2002–2008) – Peter Craig’s Pick

Bingeworthy is part of The Playlist Podcast Network, which includes Deep Focus, The Discourse, and more. We can be heard on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, and most places where podcasts are found. You can stream the podcast via the embed within the article.. Be sure to subscribe and drop us a comment or a rating, as we greatly appreciate it. Thank you for listening.