Murder and Intrigue: All About the 'City on Fire' TV Series

Based on Garth Risk Hallberg’s 2015 novel of the same name, the upcoming AppleTV+ series is a crime drama centered on the murder of a young New York City woman.

Apple TV+ is slowly but surely becoming a streaming powerhouse, and their latest offering, City on Fire, should only cement their reputation as a destination for bingeable shows. Based on Garth Risk Hallberg’s 2015 novel of the same name, City on Fire is a crime drama centered on the murder of a young New York City woman named Samantha Cicciaro, played by Chase Sui Wonders. The investigation into Cicciaro’s death serves as the connector between a series of unexplained fires throughout the city, the burgeoning downtown music scene of the early aughts, and a secretive, wealthy family trying to keep their skeletons in the closet.

City on Fire was co-created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, who are perhaps best known for developing the original TV adaptation of Gossip Girl. The duo have teamed up on a number of beloved shows over the years, including The O.C., Runaways and The CW’s Nancy Drew. For City on Fire, the pair co-wrote all eight episodes and served as co-showrunners, while Jesse Peretz—known for his work on Girls, GLOW and more—directed four episodes of the series.

Read on for everything to know about the City on Fire TV adaptation.

What is City on Fire about?

Set in New York City in 2003, City on Fire focuses on the aftermath of the murder of New York University student Samantha Cicciaro, who is killed in Central Park on the Fourth of July. When she dies, there are no witnesses and few pieces of evidence, but the investigation of the crime leads to important links between a series of mysterious fires across the city and a wealthy Upper East Side family determined to keep their secrets to themselves.

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Is City on Fire based on a book?

City on Fire is based on Garth Risk Hallberg’s 2015 novel of the same name. The book made headlines when it was released because Hallberg, a debut novelist, reportedly received a $2 million advance for the 900-page epic. While the book also centers around Samantha’s murder, Hallberg’s version is set in the 1970s amid the real-life crime and fiscal crises that swept the city.

Why is the City on Fire show set in the 2000s?

Savage and Schwartz made a huge departure from the source material when they chose to set City on Fire in the early 2000s rather than the 1970s, but the producing partners have said that they had a simple reason for making the change. “We felt like, while a fascinating period, [that era is] well trodden territory. We were really interested in that post–9/11, Occupy Wall Street [era] in New York,” Schwartz explained during the Winter Television Critics Association press tour in January 2023.

“Obviously, the book culminates in the blackout of ’77. There was a massive blackout in 2003. So creatively, that storyline lined up. But also thematically, 1977 was a time when people weren’t sure that our city was going to survive. Post–9/11 New York, people had the same concerns, the same fears.”

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When is the City on Fire release date?

The first three episodes of City on Fire debut on Apple TV+ on Friday, May 12, 2023. Remaining episodes will premiere once a week on Fridays through June 16, 2023.

Who is in the City on Fire cast?

While the time period for City on Fire has changed drastically from page to screen, many of the characters remain the same. The cast includes:

Chase Sui Wonders (Samantha Cicciaro)

Chase Sui Wonders will play Samantha, the murdered college student at the center of City on Fire’s story. Wonders is best known for appearing in 2022’s Bodies Bodies Bodies alongside rumored boyfriend Pete Davidson. She also starred in Sofia Coppola’s On the Rocks and HBO’s Generation. In May 2023, she is set to appear in Davidson’s Peacock series Bupkis, which is loosely based on his real life.

Wyatt Oleff (Charlie)

Wyatt Oleff appears as Samantha’s best friend Charlie, who won’t rest until her murder is solved. He previously appeared as young Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy and its 2017 sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. He also played young Stanley Uris in It and It Chapter Two.

Jemima Kirke (Regan)

Jemima Kirke stars as Regan, the daughter of a Manhattan real estate mogul who’s trying to break away from the family business. Kirke played Jessa Johansson on HBO’s Girls from 2012 to 2017. In 2022, she appeared as Melissa in Hulu’s adaptation of the Sally Rooney novel Conversations With Friends.

Nico Tortorella (William)

Nico Tortorella plays William, an artist living in the city who is described as “brilliant but self-destructive.” Tortorella is best known for playing Josh on TV Land’s Younger from 2015 to 2021. They also hosted the MTV reality show How Far Is Tattoo Far? And competed on RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race in 2020.

John Cameron Mitchell (Amory)

John Cameron Mitchell appears as Amory, a ruthless executive who holds a lot of power. Mitchell is best known for writing, directing, and starring in the 2001 film Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which is based on a musical he also wrote. His other film and TV credits include Shrill, Girls, The Good Fight and The Sandman. In 2022, he played Joe Exotic in Peacock’s limited series Joe vs. Carole.

Ashley Zukerman (Keith)

Ashley Zukerman stars as Keith, the husband of Kirke’s character, Regan. Zukerman has appeared in Succession, Manhattan and Designated Survivor. He also played Robert Langdon in the Peacock series The Lost Symbol, based on Dan Brown’s novel of the same name.

Omid Abtahi (Detective Ali Parsa)

Omid Abtahi will play Ali Parsa, one of the detectives trying to solve Samantha’s murder. Star Wars fans may recognize the actor from The Mandalorian, where he plays Dr. Pershing. Abtahi has also appeared in Fear the Walking Dead, American Gods and Better Call Saul.

Kathleen Munroe (Detective PJ McFadden)

Kathleen Munroe stars as PJ McFadden, who works alongside Ali Parsa to investigate the death of Samantha. Munroe’s resume includes roles in FBI, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., NCIS: New Orleans and more.

Beth Malone (Felicia Gould)

Beth Malone will appear in the role of Felicia Gould, who is the brother of Amory. Malone is best known for her work on the stage, which includes her Tony-nominated turn as Alison Bechdel in the Broadway adaptation of Bechdel’s graphic memoir Fun Home.

Other guest stars include Alexander Pineiro as Sol, Amel Khalil as Sherry Parsa, Alexandra Doke as Sewer Girl, Xavier Clyde as Mercer and Max Milner as Nicky Chaos.

Is there a City on Fire trailer?

Apple TV+ released a trailer for City on Fire on April 18, 2023.

"There are no secrets in the city of New York," Detective Parsa narrates at the start of the the video. "There’s cameras everywhere, phone records, parking tickets. Someone saw something, heard something. The city always knows."

How many episodes are in City on Fire Season 1?

There will be eight episodes of City on Fire. At this point, the show is a limited series—and given that it's based on a book, it's hard to imagine the series going beyond the scope of its source material. But you never know!

How to watch City on Fire

City on Fire will be available to Apple TV+ subscribers starting Friday, May 12, 2023. New episodes will become available via the streaming service on Fridays through June 16, 2023.

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