Here's what Cary Elwes took from the set of Peacock's 'M.I.A.'

NEW YORK – For actor Cary Elwes, signing on to the Peacock series "M.I.A." yielded several benefits, including some additions to his personal wardrobe.

"I interviewed a couple of private investigators when I got to Miami," Elwes, 63, tells USA TODAY of the preparation he did to play PI Tim Kincaid on the show.

Though most of the people he spoke with were former police or military personnel, Elwes says the real-life investigators "showed up very casually dressed" due to Miami's warm climate and their new freedom from uniform requirements.

That led the actor and showrunner Karen Campbell to devise a different look for Elwes' character: Hawaiian shirts, shorts and flip flops.

"I kept some of the shirts," Elwes says. "I live in L.A., so they come in handy."

It wasn't just Southern California's climate that made the clothes worth keeping. In Elwes' case, there was also a practical reason behind the choice.

"My house burned, so it was nice to get extra [clothes]," says the actor, who lost his Malibu home in the 2025 California wildfires. "They were very generous, the costume department."

Since the fires, Elwes' family has been renting a home, and he feels "confident" that they'll be able to rebuild.

"Everyone feels like Malibu is strong," he says. "You kick us and we get right back up. That's just the energy of that town."

Peacock's 'M.I.A.' comes from the creator of 'Ozark'

Bill Dubuque ("Ozark") is the creator and executive producer of "M.I.A." (all nine episodes streaming now on Peacock, pilot episode airing Thursday at 10 pm ET/PT, NBC). The show's title has a double meaning: "missing in action" and the setting for the series, Miami and the Florida Keys.

"If you've watched ["Ozark"], you kind of know what you're getting," Elwes says. "These are bingeable shows and ["M.I.A."], it grabs you the minute you start watching it and it just doesn't let go."

In "M.I.A.," Etta Tiger Jonze (Shannon Gisela) dreams of a big life in Miami. That changes when she witnesses the murder of her entire family, who ran a drug-dealing business. Jonze embarks on a journey to Miami, but now seeks revenge for the death of her loved ones.

Elwes calls his costar's performance "remarkable," and believes the show will stand out from the vast amount of options available on streaming platforms.

"Audiences are very smart today," Elwes says. "They know if it's a show that's going to intrigue them and entertain them and provoke them, and I think we cover all those."

The times are much different from Elwes' start in Hollywood. His first credited role was in 1979, but it wasn't until 1987 that he rose to fame playing Westley in the romantic comedy "The Princess Bride." He went on to play notable roles in "Saw," "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," and "Ella Enchanted," among other films.

And over four decades later, Elwes is still having fun with his work.

"The day I don't enjoy it anymore is the day I quit," he says. "[Acting] shouldn't be like going to the dentist."