How Cary Elwes Prepared to Play a Private Investigator in Peacock's M.I.A.
The iconic actor did some old-fashioned research to prepare for his role in the new Peacock original thriller.
Key Takeaways
- Cary Elwes prepared for his role as Kincaid in Peacock's M.I.A. by interviewing real Miami investigators, many of whom are former law enforcement or military.
- The actor described KiRead More
- Cary Elwes prepared for his role as Kincaid in Peacock's M.I.A. by interviewing real Miami investigators, many of whom are former law enforcement or military.
- The actor described Kincaid as an ex–Miami P.D. detective working to regain his moral compass while investigating a violent crime.
- Filming in Miami allowed Elwes to explore the city with his wife and daughter, creating memorable family experiences during production of Peacock's M.I.A.
As all nine episodes of M.I.A. have officially arrived on Peacock, Cary Elwes has let us in on how he prepared for his role on the crime drama as private investigator Kincaid.
In an interview with TODAY on May 7, M.I.A.'s Peacock premiere date, Elwes described the thriller as a show that "grabs you by the lapels and just won't let go."
Starring Shannon Gisela as Etta Tiger Jonze, a young woman who dreams of a life in Miami after becoming restless in the Florida Keys. Etta's priorities change, however, when disaster strikes. As the show's synopsis teases, "When her family’s drug running business shatters in tragedy, Etta embarks on a dangerous journey through Miami’s neon lit underbelly that will define who she is and what she’s ultimately capable of."
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In the series, Elwes' character investigates the gruesome crime as a Miami-based private investigator. Most well-known his roles in The Princess Bride and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, the 63-year-old actor did his research to prepare for such a unique role.
Cary Elwes shares how he prepared for his role on Peacock's M.I.A.: "I interviewed a bunch..."
As it turns out, Elwes discovered many aspects of his character by talking to the very men and women who do the job in real life.
"I interviewed a bunch of investigators in Miami when I got there, and most of them are ex-law enforcement or military," Elwes explained on TODAY before adding that his character is "a guy who's fallen on hard times, so he's an ex-Miami P.D. detective-turned-investigator ... he's on a mission to rediscover his moral compass."
Peacock's M.I.A. was filmed in the summer of 2025 in Miami, Florida.
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Cary Elwes' wife and daughter joined him in Miami while filming Peacock's M.I.A.
After confirming that he "always" brings his family on location during production in whatever project he's involved in, Elwes happily spoke about what it was like being surrounded by his loved ones in Miami while filming Peacock's M.I.A.
"Oh my Gosh, are you kidding?" Elwes responded when he was asked by TODAY if he loved his time in South Florida with them.
He revealed that although he had never been to the part of South Florida where Peacock's M.I.A. was filmed, his wife, Lisa Marie Kubikoff had — and her tour-guide skills made Elwes appreciate the city's culture, food, and history. The couple have been married for over 25 years and share a daughter, 19-year-old Dominique.
Elwes specifically mentioned a visit with his family to Miami's Gilded Age-inspired Vizcaya Museum and Gardens as a memory that stood out. "I just loved it, he told TODAY. "I loved being there. I'm so lucky in what I do for a living that I get to go to places I don't normally get to travel [to], and they put up, and I get to bring my family out, and it's great."
All nine episodes of M.I.A. are now currently streaming on Peacock.
