Is Peacock's M.I.A. Based on a True Story?
Find out if the riveting tale told in Peacock's new crime series, M.I.A., is real or based on actual people.
Key Takeaways
- The series is not a true story but draws inspiration from real Miami law enforcement experiences and individuals.
- Character details for Kincaid (Cary Elwes), including his attire anRead More
- The series is not a true story but draws inspiration from real Miami law enforcement experiences and individuals.
- Character details for Kincaid (Cary Elwes), including his attire and mannerisms, were influenced by retired investigators and private detectives.
- The lead actors’ strong on-screen chemistry shaped the dynamic between Etta, Lovely, and Stanley.
A cartel slaughters almost every member of a family in Peacock's new crime series, M.I.A. — and the sole survivor seeks revenge.
It's a fascinating tale, but is it real? Or are any of the elements and characters based on real-life situations and people? You may be surprised.
Peacock's M.I.A. focuses on Etta Tiger Jones (Shannon Gisela), a young woman from the Florida Keys who learns about the dark side of her family's drug-running business. As she grapples with her grief, she finds refuge with two new friends, Lovely (Brittany Adebumola) and Stanley (Dylan Jackson), in Miami.
Meanwhile, Kincaid (Cary Elwes), a private investigator, is trying to get to the bottom of Etta's family's murders and whether or not she's still alive.
RELATED: The Complex Reason Cary Elwes' Character Wears Hawaiian Shirts on Peacock's M.I.A.
Is Peacock's M.I.A. based on a true story?
No, Peacock's M.I.A. is not based on a true story. However, the series' creator Bill Dubuque (Ozark) was inspired by real-life people, anecdotes from law enforcement staffers in Miami, and what he saw on ride-alongs, for character traits and elements of the show. Specifically, Kincaid's dress style and eyeglasses were inspired by real-life Florida investigators that Dubuque and Elwes met with.
RELATED: Everything To Know About M.I.A., Peacock's New Original Crime Drama Series
Dubuque visited Miami-Dade police headquarters, where he had a chance to meet with detectives in the organized crime task force and learn how crime operates in the city.
"I sat there and drank Cuban coffee all day and then we'd get in their SUVs and drive around Miami and they were very generous with their time," Dubuque told Peacock Blog.
How Cary Elwes' Kincaid in Peacock's M.I.A. was inspired by real investigators
One retired detective sparked ideas for the role of Kincaid.
"The role that Cary plays was inspired by a retired FBI detective who wore two sets of glasses and just a wonderful human being," Dubuque told Peacock Blog.
RELATED: Who's in the Cast of Peacock's New Crime Drama Series M.I.A.?
Elwes was able to speak with some private investigators in Miami prior to filming M.I.A. This helped influence Kincaid's fondness for Hawaiian shirts.
"The first thing I noticed about both of them was they were very casual in their dress," Elwes told Peacock Blog. "I asked them about that and since they were both ex-police officers, which many private investigators are, they said that after wearing uniforms for such a long period of time, they really leaned into wearing more casual wear when they decided to retire and take on the role of P.I. With that in mind, Karen Campbell, our showrunner, and I, really explored making Kincaid... more of a Key Largo vibe."
When it came to their collaboration while putting together M.I.A., Campbell joked that Dubuque and her "get on like a house on fire."
"We have similar sensibilities and so, from the jump, there is like this, just this wonderful shorthand," Campbell said about their working relationship. "For both of us as storytellers because we both really like character-driven, high-stakes world, high-stakes environment in a world that audiences want to escape into."
As for the actors who play Etta, Lovely, and Stanley, their chemistry was apparent in their very first read together, Campbell (Outlander, Dexter) told Peacock Blog.
"That's just the beauty of in-person chemistry reads," Campbell said. "We had cast Shannon as our Etta, and then we had a handful of frontrunners come in and had to find the absolute right permutation of Etta, Lovely, and Stanley and when [Shannon] read with Brittany and Dylan, the chemistry was palpable. There was absolute alchemy and it was just undeniable that Brittany was meant to be our Lovely and Dylan was meant to be our Stanley because both of those actors just harnessed the essence of what we were looking for, for the characters."
The trio works together to help Etta find a path forward — and get revenge — after her family's murders.
See how it all works out by watching M.I.A., with all nine episodes available to stream on Peacock now!
