Idris Elba’s ‘Hijack’ to Return for Second Season

The actor will be back as Sam Nelson, the business deal negotiator who found himself in a scary mid-air terrorist situation during the first season.

Idris Elba in 'Hijack,' now streaming on Apple TV+.

Preview:

Idris Elba will return for a second season of ‘Hijack’.
Apple TV+ confirmed the show will return.
There’s no date for the new season.

Though we’ve all gotten more used to seeing him as gruff detective John Luther on TV screens, actor Idris Elba scored a big new small screen hit with last year’s ‘Hijack’.

And while it took things to a pulpy level at times, the pulse-pounding drama thriller certainly drew a solid audience. Enough that Apple TV+ has now announced a second season for the series.

What’s the story of ‘Hijack’?

Idris Elba in 'Hijack,' now streaming on Apple TV+.

Told in real time, “Hijack” is a tense thriller that follows the journey of a hijacked Kingdom Airways plane as it makes its way to London over a seven-hour flight, and authorities on the ground scramble for answers.

Elba stars 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.

And when he starts to dig in what is happening with the situation, he learns that all is far from what it initially seems. Plus, if the passengers decide to stage their own intervention, things could go south –– never a good thing for a plane while it’s in the air –– very quickly.

On the ground, meanwhile, we have Archie Panjabi as Zahra Gahfoor, a counter terrorism officer who is on the ground when the plane is hijacked and becomes part of the investigation.

Who else is in ‘Hijack?’

(L to R Max Beesley and Christine Adams in 'Hijack,' premiering June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+.

The series also stars Christine Adams, Max Beesley, Eve Myles, Neil Maskell, Jasper Britton, Harry Michell, Aimee Kelly, Mohamed Elsandel and Ben Miles.

All those people (besides Elba) are only possible returnees –– as seen below, there are no details on what Sam Nelson might be landed into this time. Will he be on a hijacked train? A runaway bus? A rickshaw with a particularly fleet-footed driver?

Okay, probably not the last one. But it’ll be fun finding out.

What are Elba and others saying about the news?

Idris Elba in 'Hijack,' premiering June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+.

Idris Elba is, somewhat naturally, happy to see the show coming back:

“I was floored by the overwhelming audience response after season one. It’s top secret what new situation unfolds for Sam Nelson but I can assure you we will bring the high octane back!”

And Jay Hunt, Apple TV+ creative director for Europe also commented:

“Global audiences were on tenterhooks watching Idris’s riveting performance in ‘Hijack,’ and we’re thrilled to be working again with 60Forty and Idiotlamp on an equally compelling season two.”