John Leguizamo recently shared insights about his role in Apple TV+’s crime drama series Smoke, revealing the unique circumstances that shaped his character and the intense storytelling behind the show. The series, centered around arson investigator Dave Gudsen, played by Taron Egerton, explores a disturbing transformation as Dave secretly becomes an arsonist while investigators close in. Leguizamo’s character, Ezra Esposito, is a former partner of Dave’s who faces disgrace and seeks redemption.
Leguizamo revealed that Dennis Lehane, the showrunner and writer, specifically created the role of Ezra Esposito with him in mind, which initially surprised the actor given the character’s dark, troubled nature. Despite being designed as a “decrepit old drug addict,” Ezra’s complex and multifaceted personality offered Leguizamo a compelling opportunity to portray a bitter yet passionate man struggling to reclaim his dignity.
Behind the Scenes: Crafting a Complex Character
On the development of his role, Leguizamo recalled a Zoom conversation with Lehane, who assured him the character was a “custom-made suit.”
Dennis Lehane Zoomed me and he said he wrote this character for me,
Leguizamo said.
I was like, you know, insulted. ‘What do you mean? I’m a decrepit old drug addict?!’ He said, ‘No, no.’ But he spoke to my abilities and that I could bring this character to life. What an opportunity to play this role at my age – this sort of dark, funny, complex, bitter, passionate man. He’s trying to pick himself up by the boots when he tried to speak truth to power and got his career destroyed. So he hits rock bottom and he’s still fighting for the truth.
—John Leguizamo, Actor
Leguizamo also pointed out how Ezra’s unusual introduction—directing amateur adult films—was intentionally scripted, demonstrating Lehane’s flair for surprising but authentic character details. The actor laughed about this twist, stating it was a perfect fit for the storyline.

Expectations for Future Seasons of Smoke
Although Apple TV+ has not officially announced a renewal for a second season of Smoke, Leguizamo expressed strong confidence in the show’s continued development. He mentioned plans for the character’s ongoing arc, revealing that Ezra would persist in his struggle across multiple seasons.
He’s going to keep fighting in the next few seasons. If you binge watch it, then we will have season twos and threes,
—John Leguizamo, Actor
Leguizamo emphasized the strength of the writing, noting that Lehane’s script required less improvisation than he usually performs, allowing him to fully inhabit the role as envisioned. He described the script as meticulously crafted, likening it to being “an incredible custom-made suit.”
I didn’t have to do much. I usually have to do a lot of heavy lifting in the writing and improvising, but not here. This was an incredible custom-made suit for me.
—John Leguizamo, Actor
The Chemistry of Cast and On-Set Stories
Leguizamo spoke highly of his scene partners, praising Jurnee Smollett as a standout talent and commending Greg Kinnear for his effortless and adaptable performance. Their chemistry and professionalism contributed significantly to the series’ depth.
One of the new great actors of our time,
he said of Smollett. On Kinnear, Leguizamo noted he was
so effortless to work with… so present, so up for anything.
—John Leguizamo, Actor
Beyond the series, Leguizamo recounted memorable experiences from his lengthy career, including the challenging production of the 1993 film Super Mario Bros. Despite initial doubts, the movie earned renewed respect over time, influencing generations despite a difficult shooting environment marked by illness and extensive dubbing.
I’m a fan of the movie now,
he admitted.
It took a little while. I had high expectations for the movie and it underperformed at the time, but I didn’t know it influenced a whole generation. I had no idea, but now I know. Now it’s got mad respect. We were shooting in a cement factory. We all got white lung. Everybody got sick. I had to dub every single line. Three weeks of dubbing. I think I’m the king of dubbing because of that.
—John Leguizamo, Actor
Leguizamo also reminisced about working with Steven Seagal on Executive Decision, highlighting the unexpected tensions on set during rehearsals.
He hit me on the first day of rehearsal because I was goofing on him and he had no sense of humor. And then he didn’t want to die on the day he was supposed to die. He wouldn’t come out of his trailer because it was a virtual death. Maybe he didn’t understand the difference between reality and fiction,
—John Leguizamo, Actor
Missed Opportunities and Personal Growth
Reflecting on roles he nearly secured but ultimately missed, Leguizamo revealed that his behavior during one pivotal meeting cost him a part in The Devil Wears Prada. He disclosed that Meryl Streep had advocated for him to play the Stanley Tucci character, but his candid remarks about fashion led to his disqualification and a reevaluation of his lifestyle.
’Happy Feet’ was one of them, and ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’ I was supposed to be the Stanley Tucci character,
Leguizamo shared.
Meryl Streep asked for me, but I drank too much at the meeting. I was saying crazy things like, ‘I hate fashion. I don’t even know why people care about fashion.’ They were about to cast me and I talked them out of it. That’s why I’m sober now!
—John Leguizamo, Actor
Collaboration on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
Leguizamo recently completed filming on Christopher Nolan’s upcoming project The Odyssey, which he described as “incredible” and “really accessible.” He offered a detailed perspective on Nolan’s directing style, contrasting it with contemporary filmmaking approaches.
According to Leguizamo, Nolan embodies a visionary spirit that blends large-scale production values with intimate, old-school direction techniques. Unlike many directors who rely heavily on monitors, Nolan prefers to watch actors directly, standing behind the camera to capture the nuances of their performances.
Nolan is a pure visionary. He runs the set like an independent film. I know it costs hundreds of millions of dollars, but he stands behind the camera,
Leguizamo said.
And I’ve asked so many directors when I’m working on movies and they’re going, ‘you’re not doing enough.’ I go, ‘it’s because you’re looking at a tiny monitor. You can’t really see my eyes. Stand behind the camera and you’ll see what I’m doing.’ He does that. He stands behind the camera like old school directors and is watching and can see. You can’t really see actors’ faces in a monitor that’s this big. I know they got bigger ones, but it’s still not the same as being behind the camera and seeing what actors are doing. Nolan’s looking right at you.
—John Leguizamo, Actor
The Enduring Impact of Smoke and Future Prospects
Smoke is now available for full streaming on Apple TV+, with its finale airing on August 15. The compelling exploration of psychological unraveling and moral complexity has garnered attention, with Leguizamo’s performance representing one of the show’s darkest and most intricate facets.
Leguizamo’s reflections on both his current work and broader career demonstrate his ongoing commitment to challenging roles and collaboration with visionary creators like Christopher Nolan. As The Odyssey approaches release, audiences can anticipate another distinctive cinematic experience shaped by Nolan’s immersive and hands-on directing style.