The cast of the new Peacock series M.I.A., Shannon Gisela, Brittany Adebumola, and Dylan Jackson, explore the show’s core themes. The cast delved into the complex motivations driving their characters through Miami’s neon-lit underbelly and the surprising ways their roles evolved during the first season.
Restless in the Florida Keys, Etta Tiger Jonze hungers for a life in Miami’s glittering, sub-tropical kingdom. When a sudden tragedy shatters her family’s drug-running business, she doesn’t just watch the fallout, she dives headfirst into the city’s neon-lit underbelly. This dangerous journey forces Etta to define her own identity and prove exactly what she is capable of.
Behind the Scenes of M.I.A.: A Conversation with the Cast on Survival, Identity, and Found Family
Streaming on Peacock, M.I.A. is a gritty crime drama from creator Bill Dubuque and showrunner Karen Campbell. The nine-episode series stars Shannon Gisela, Cary Elwes, and Danay Garcia, delivering a high-stakes look at power and survival. Produced by MRC, the series features a powerhouse ensemble cast including Brittany Adebumola, Dylan Jackson, and Alberto Guerra.
In anticipation of the high-stakes crime drama M.I.A., Temple of Geek sat down with series stars Shannon Gisela (Etta), Brittany Adebumola (Lovely), and Dylan Jackson (Stanley).
Shannon Gisela on Etta and Caroline’s Parallel Paths and Radical Agency
During our interview there were comparisons between the protagonist, Etta, and her counterpart, Caroline. Shannon Gisela noted that while both women are daughters of powerful families who tried to shield them from the darker sides of the business, they share a relentless drive for agency. Gisela shared that what Caroline wants, she gets, and the same is true for Etta because they both want control, power, and a sense of agency.
I think the show does a really wonderful job of having the female characters be very strong and determined women. And Caroline, in particular, Marta Milans said it in another interview “what Caroline wants, Caroline gets.” And I feel like the same is true for Etta. – Shannon Gisela
However, the execution of their motives differs; while Caroline can appear more brash, Etta relies on her scrappy nature and intellect to navigate obstacles. Gisela found it surprising that despite the dangerous world she inhabits, Etta maintains her heart throughout her journey.
And their motivations are the same. They both want better for their families. They both want control and a sense of power and a sense of agency. And I think where they differ is in the execution of their motives. They’re two sides of the same coin. So that when, you know, in the finale, when we make a discovery, it’s like real recognizing real. It’s like two tigers seeing each other. – Shannon Gisela
Brittany Adebumola and Dylan Jackson on being the The Heart and the Muscle of M.I.A.
Brittany Adebumola described her character, Lovely, as a heart-forward individual who leads with empathy and curiosity, a stark contrast to Etta’s more cerebral approach. Adebumola found this openness liberating, as it challenged her own natural guards. Lovely stays open and accepting despite the trauma she has witnessed in her life. As the season progresses, glimpses of a more self-reliant side of Lovely emerge, hinting at a complex past in Haiti that Adebumola hopes to explore in a second season.
She leads with her heart. She lets you know how she feels. She is so emotionally intelligent and just sort of just tapped in to what’s going on in here [heart]. Whereas like Etta is very much up here [head]. And that was new for me.
Honestly, that was challenging for me. I feel like as a young Black woman myself, I have a lot of guards up because I have to in order to survive in this world. Whereas Lovely makes a choice to still be open and to be accepting and to lead with empathy and curiosity. And that’s not something I’ve ever played before. Initially I was like, “Don’t rescue that girl. You don’t know her”, you know. But finding, understanding her why and how she’s even able to be that open was very challenging, but also liberating. Because it’s just not something, I don’t get to lean into that kind of whimsy and that level of openness very often. – Brittany Adebumola
Dylan Jackson explored the radical transformation of Stanley, who initially focused on maintaining the status quo. Stanley finds his “superpowers” through his connection with Etta and Lovely because Etta understands him in a way no one else has. Jackson was intrigued by Stanley’s powerful physicality, which manifests quickly and unexpectedly as he moves from a perceiver to someone more brawny and capable.
I think Stanley at the beginning of the story is maintaining a status quo, which considering his early life and the city that he lives in is quite radical. And when Etta and Lovely enter the picture, I think Etta understands him in a way that no one else in his life has. And then when he gets in hot water and Lovely and Etta both show up for him in a very powerful way, I think he realizes what friendship is, what family is.
And that these proclivities and behaviors that everyone has told him all of his life to mask or to stop or to censor. They tell him, no, these are of use, they’re valuable, and they’re superpowers of sorts. And I think towards the end, not only is he a perceiver, but he works in construction. I think he starts to get more brawny, which considering the body that he’s in is also a radical take. – Dylan Jackson
Peacock’s M.I.A. Cast on the Power of Found Family
A defining element of M.I.A. is the shift from biological legacy to found family. While characters like Caroline are bound to their families by circumstance, Etta actively forms her own unit with Lovely and Stanley. This bond is solidified when the trio shows up for one another during moments of crisis, teaching Stanley the true meaning of friendship and family. As the first season concludes, the cast remains eager to see where these relationships lead.
All nine episodes of the crime drama M.I.A. are now streaming exclusively on Peacock as of May 7, 2026.
