Jordan plays Montag, a young fireman who struggles with his role as law enforcer as he battles his mentor, fire captain Beatty, played by Shannon. Sofia Boutella (The Mummy, Kingsman: The Secret Service) also stars as Clarisse, an informant caught between the competing interests of Montag and Beatty. Other cast members include YouTube star Lilly Singh, who plays a tabloid reporter named Raven, tasked with spreading propaganda and broadcasting the firemens' book-burning raids.
Director Ramin Bahrani explains his interest in the story and its themes, “I have always loved Ray Bradbury's prophetic novel Fahrenheit 451. Two years ago, as I looked at the world around me, it seemed like the ideal time to do a modern interpretation.”