Exploring the link between Apple TV+'s 'The Big Cigar' and Ben Affleck's movie 'Argo'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Big Cigar' is streaming on Apple TV+ from May 17, 2024. The series has been created by Jim Hecht and has six episodes. The series features an ensemble cast of André Holland, Tiffany Boone, Alessandro Nivola, Marc Menchaca, and P J Byrne among others.
The series follows the life of Huey P Newton (André Holland), the leader of the Black Panther party who is a wanted man in the United States when he takes the help of Hollywood producer Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) to use a fake movie 'The Big Cigar' as a guise to escape from the country.
The plot of the show has been widely compared to Ben Affleck's film 'Argo' which came out in 2013. Here we explore the link between 'Argo' and 'The Big Cigar'.
Both 'The Big Cigar' and 'Argo' are based on Joshuah Bearman’s articles
'The Big Cigar' and 'Argo' have been inspired by articles by journalist Joshuah Bearman from two different eras. While 'Argo' was inspired by the 2007 article for Wired 'The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran', 'The Big Cigar' takes inspiration from 'The Big Cigar: How a Hollywood producer smuggled Huey Newton to Cuba' published in 2013.
Joshua Bearman is a renowned American journalist who worked as a staff writer and editor for LA Weekly. He is the co-founder of the television production company, Epic. He is also among the producers of 'The Big Cigar' and is credited as a writer for the series.
Using the guise of a fake Hollywood movie as an escape plan
Both 'Argo' and 'The Big Cigar' have a plot point where fake Hollywood films are used as a front to help people escape borders. In 'Argo', the CIA takes the help of Hollywood to make a sci-fi flick that enables their entry into Iran and helps them save their nationals who are considered enemies of the state.
In 'The Big Cigar', Huey P Newton is considered an enemy of the state in America and the leader of The Black Panther party takes the help of a Hollywood producer and other people who align with his ideologies to escape to Cuba under the garb of a film titled The Big Cigar.
Incidentally, both 'Argo' and 'The Big Cigar' have been named after the titles of the films they make in the film/show.
How to stream 'The Big Cigar'?
'The Big Cigar' will stream exclusively on Apple TV+ from May 17, 2024. Viewers who want to watch this show will need an Apple TV+ subscription.
Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 a month and viewers can access the whole collection of original television shows and films on the site for this cost.
'The Big Cigar' trailer
'The Big Cigar' is streaming on Apple TV+ on May 17, 2024