Apple Studios Orders “City on Fire,” New Drama Series from Creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage

Apple today announced a series order for “City on Fire,” a new drama series inspired by the acclaimed novel of the same name by Garth Risk Hallberg. Set to be produced by Apple Studios and written and executive produced by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (“Gossip Girl,” “Looking for Alaska,” “The OC“), the eight-episode first season of the series will make its global debut on Apple TV+.

In “City on Fire,” an NYU student is shot in Central Park on the Fourth of July, 2003. Samantha Cicciaro is alone; there are no witnesses and very little physical evidence. Her friends’ band is playing her favorite downtown club but she leaves to meet someone, promising to return. She never does. As the crime against Samantha is investigated, she’s revealed to be the crucial connection between a series of mysterious citywide fires, the downtown music scene, and a wealthy uptown real estate family fraying under the strain of the many secrets they keep.

“City on Fire” marks the first series order to hail from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage’s first-look deal with Apple under their Fake Empire Productions banner. Schwartz and Savage will write all eight episodes and will serve as showrunners and executive producers under Fake Empire. Fake Empire’s Lis Rowinski will serve as co-executive producer.

“City on Fire” joins a growing lineup of Apple Original series that will be developed and produced by Apple Studios, including “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey,” a new limited series based on the moving novel by best-selling author Walter Mosley, and starring Samuel L. Jackson and Dominique Fishback; the highly sought-after film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” directed by Martin Scorsese, and starring and produced by Leonardo DiCaprio; “Emancipation,” from director Antoine Fuqua and starring and produced by Academy Award nominee Will Smith; “In With The Devil,” a new six-episode limited series written and executive produced by best-selling author Dennis Lehane and starring Taron Egerton; “Snow Blind,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Gustav Möller; “Swan Song,” a genre-bending film starring Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris and Glenn Close; “Masters of the Air,” from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television and Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone; a new drama series from Team Downey and Adam Perlman; and “High Desert,” a comedy series starring Patricia Arquette, who will also executive produce alongside director Ben Stiller.

Apple TV+ is home to award-winning Apple Originals from today’s most imaginative storytellers. Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens.  Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have been honored with 117 wins and 408 awards nominations in 18 months.