More than a year after the finale of Ridley Scott's crime drama 'Dope Thief', it has become officially known: there will be no second season.

ScreenRant's producer was told this by David Zucker, director of content at Scott Free Productions — Scott's company. According to him, the series was originally conceived flexibly: it could remain a completed mini-story or grow into something bigger — everything depended on audience reaction.

"There was an option to continue this story, and I think the show performed well for Apple — but they decided not to renew it," Zucker said.


This puts an end to rumors that have been circulating since the finale aired: actors and creators hinted at a possible continuation, but Apple ultimately declined to produce new episodes.

What the series was about

Based on Dennis Tafoya's book, the series 'Dope Thief' told the story of childhood friends from Philadelphia — Ray Driscoll (Brian Tyree Henry) and Manny Carvalho (Wagner Moura) — who impersonated DEA agents to rob drug dealers. Everything went smoothly until they accidentally stumbled upon a location under actual DEA surveillance. The pilot episode was personally directed by Scott himself — a rare case where the director not only produces a project but also gets behind the camera.

The show received high critical acclaim (86% on Rotten Tomatoes) and earned Henry his third Emmy nomination. It premiered in the same year as the equally grim 'Task' from HBO — they were often compared as two takes on the theme of hereditary sin and community responsibility in the crime genre.