Apple released the first trailer for its upcoming action thriller, Hijack, starring Idris Elba, on Thursday. Created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith and executively produced by Elba himself, the seven-part miniseries follows the crew and passengers aboard a London-bound flight hijacked by a terrorist cell.
If somehow, you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if ’24’ and ‘Taken’ had a baby on a plane, you now have your answer.
Told in real-time, “Hijack” is a tense thriller that follows the journey of a hijacked plane as it makes its way to London over a seven-hour flight, and authorities on the ground scramble for answers.
Elba will star as Sam Nelson, an accomplished negotiator in the business world who needs to step up and use all his guile to try and save the lives of the passengers.
But his high-risk strategy could be his undoing.
What to expect from Hijack?
Hijack was created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith, who previously collaborated on the Netflix crime anthology series Criminal. Their new, Elba-led series will run for seven episodes.
Hijack takes a page out of Kiefer Sutherland’s espionage thriller 24, as each series episode will tell its story in real-time. The trailer hints at a broader conspiracy beyond the plane hijacking, underscoring some possible inspiration from 24. With Elba in the lead role as a skilled negotiator, there seems to be plenty of suspense as he tries to navigate the plane hijacking from inside.
Kay and Smith’s talent for crime series and Elba’s seasoned acting experience mean Hijack will likely be a memorable thrill ride. Hijack’s premise is reminiscent of 24 and could also open the door for the resurgence of real-time storytelling. How the show handles its real-time premise will be revealed once Hijack debuts on Apple TV+ on June 28, 2023.
Hijack features two protagonists. Sam Nelson (Elba) is a no-nonsense business negotiator with a knack for improvising himself out of tight situations, and Zahra Gahfoor (Archie Panjabi), a counter-terrorist officer leading the investigation into the hijacking.
Elba and Panjgabi are joined by a supporting cast including Christine Adams (Black Lightning), Max Beesley (Bodies), Eve Myles (Torchwood), Neil Maskell (Small Axe), Jasper Britton (The New World), Harry Michell (Yesterday), Aimée Kelly (Wolfblood), Mohamed Elsandel (Hireth) and Ben Miles (Andor).
“Hijack” is produced by 60Forty Films, the production company set up by Emmy Award-winning executive producers Jamie Laurenson and Hakan Kousetta. It marks the first series to debut from Elba’s first-look deal with Apple TV+ and his Green Door Pictures.
In addition to writing and directing, Kay and Field Smith serve as executive producers alongside Elba, Laurenson, Kousetta, and Kris Thykier.
About Hijack
Hijack is an upcoming British thriller miniseries created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith. It will premiere on Apple TV+ on June 28, 2023.
Idris Elba plays the main character, Sam Nelson. Other cast members include Archie Panjabi, Christine Adams, Max Beesley, Eve Myles, and Mohamed Elsandel.
The story follows Flight KA29, hijacked from Dubai to London during its seven-hour journey. Corporate negotiator Sam Nelson, a passenger on the plane, must try to use his professional skills to save everyone on board.
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