After a runner-up performance on “Survivor 48” last year, followed by a celebrated return to the series last week for its milestone 50th season, castaway Joseph “Joe” Hunter is officially set to make his acting debut on the cast of Tyler Perry’s upcoming firefighter drama – “Where There’s Smoke” – on Netflix.
Here’s everything you need to know about the latest addition to the Tyler Perry multiverse and Joe Hunter’s role in the upcoming drama.
What Will Tyler Perry’s ‘Where There’s Smoke’ Be About?
GettyJoe Hunter, a real-life Sacramento fire captain himself, will join the forthcoming 16-episode series in the role of Captain Bailey, part of “a group of firefighters [who] will navigate the intense challenges of their profession while grappling with personal struggles, fractured relationships, and the emotional toll of saving lives in a world filled with danger, drama, and heartbreak.”
Production on the Tyler Perry-led project has already begun in Atlanta, Georgia, with stars like Tyler Lepley (“The Haves and the Have Nots”) as Owen; Mike Merrill (“STRAW”) as Cameron; and Da’Vinchi (“BMF”) as Noah, set to join the cast alongside ensemble members Eltony Williams (“Designated Survivor”) as Jermaine; Brock O’Hurn (“Euphoria”) as Ethan; Karen Obilom (“House Party”) as Laura; Brittany S. Hall (“Ballers”) as Angela; Mariah Goodie (“Be Someone”) as Rhonda; Jordan Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”) as Brent; and Judi Moon (Last Love”) as Darcy.
No word just yet as to when viewers can expect to see “Where There’s Smoke” make its Netflix debut – but stay tuned.
“Grateful to @tylerperry @netflix for this opportunity,” Hunter wrote on his Instagram Stories after the casting announcement dropped on Tuesday, adding, “Just the beginning…Excited for the world to see.”
Joe Hunter Isn’t the First ‘Survivor’ Castaway to Pursue an Acting Career
CBSWhile Joe Hunter’s role in Tyler Perry’s “Where There’s Smoke” is significant for a number of reasons – including Hunter’s recent roles on “Survivor” Seasons 48 and 50 as well as the series’ home on Netflix – the castaway is far from the first to pursue an acting career after launching his television career on the longrunning reality competition series.
For example, shortly after “Survivor: Guatemala” alum Rafe Judkins dropped his buff, he moved to Hollywood, becoming a screenwriter for series like “Chuck,” “Hemlock Grove” and “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Today, Judkins works as the showrunner for Prime Video’s “The Wheel of Time” series.
GettyAdditionally, Hunter’s “Survivor 50” co-star Colby Donaldson celebrated a guest star appearance in the 2004 “Curb Your Enthusiasm” episode titled “The Survivor.” Meanwhile, “Survivor: Borneo” stars Rudy Boesch and Colleen Haskell pursued brief acting careers in films and TV shows like”JAG,” “Combat Missions” and “The Animal.”
Most notably, “Survivor: Redemption Island” star Matt Elrod – now known as the actor Wyatt Nash – left the world of reality TV behind in the early 2010s, changing his name and kick-starting a an impressive acting career that has since included roles in movies and TV shows like “Pretty Little Liars,” “The Bridge,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and “Riverdale.”
Elrod/Nash even scored a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series” for his role on the hit series “GLOW” in 2019.
CBSPlenty of other “Survivor” alumni, such as Season 50 returnees Christian Hubicki and Angelina Keeley, have also launched their “acting” careers with cameos on fellow castaway Mike White’s HBO hit drama “The White Lotus” in recent years.
