Always adelight on TV and film, Oscar-nominated actorBrian Tyree Henry(Causeway) is back on the small screen with another gripping series — this time on Apple TV+. InDope Thief, his ever-conflicted character Ray is a new kind of troublemaker, posing as a DEA agent to infiltrate drug dens for the sake of some quick cash. Sounds like trouble indeed — one has to wonder what Henry’sbelovedAtlantacharacter “Paper Boi"would feel about such delinquency. Nonetheless, Ray can be warmhearted and vulnerable, and MovieWeb recently caught up with Henry to learn more about what he hopes fans will take away from his all-new lead character.
“I hope that viewers are entertained and truly locked in and intrigued by seeing characters like this exist on their television screen, because I haven’t really seen it in this way,” Henry told us. “And so what I hope the takeaway is, is that they’ll want to tune in every week to see if he makes it. I want them to care about Ray. I want them to be excited about Ray and [his best friend] Manny [played by Wagner Moura]… I’m interested to see how people will respond to Ray, because he’s very much a hero, but an antihero at the same time.” Henry continued:
“People have been throwing words likeBreaking BadandThe Wireand things out like that, and I remember always hating Walter White… I don’t remember liking him at all. But here with Ray, lke, there is such a tenderness to him at points. There is such a vulnerability to him. There is this kind of wonder, of hoping that this kid, you know, even though he’s a grown man, will make it. And so that, to me, is something that I think is really special.”
“Also, I’m hoping that it’s a character that people haven’t seen me play before,” added Henry. “Like, this was one of the most challenging characters I’ve ever stepped foot into. It required quite a bit, and I was glad to do it. You know, to be able to star in something and executive-produce it at the same time is insane, but it was the most fulfilling thing I’d ever done.”
Related:‘Dope Thief’ Review: Brian Tyree Henry’s Latest Wise Guy Gets Entangled in a Murky Mess
“Never Seen Anything Like This”
Alongside Henry for the production ofDope Thiefare other Hollywood heavyweights, including creator Peter Craig (writer onThe BatmanandThe Town) plus a lovely spread of co-stars. “You have a show with some of the most amazing characters that I’ve ever experienced,” Henry told us. “Manny [Moura], my partner-in-crime, literally and figuratively.And then you’ve got Ving Rhamesand Kate Mulgrew and Marin Ireland, and Nesta Cooper… wonderful actors.” He added:
“And Peter Craig’s writing also is one of the most amazing things. You know, I think this is Peter’s first foray into television, so for him to write every single episode and to create this universe is truly captivating. So I think that that’s what I want people to walk away with, being like, ‘[I’ve] never seen anything like this before.'”
Dope Thiefwill begin streaming on Apple TV+ starting July 10, 2025. You can watch it through the link below:
Watch Dope Thief
Dope Thief
