Opens in new window

Apple TV+ hosts world premiere for highly anticipated real-time thriller, “Hijack,” starring and executive produced by Idris Elba

Stars Elba, Archie Panjabi, Max Beesley and more attend red carpet event
Download all 7 article images
Press Release June 27, 2023
Idris Elba attends the global premiere of "Hijack" at BFI Southbank on June 27, 2023 in London, England. "Hijack” premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

Tonight at the BFI Southbank in London, Apple TV+ hosted the world premiere of the gripping new thriller, “Hijack.” Debuting globally on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Wednesday, June 28, “Hijack” stars and is executive produced by SAG Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Idris Elba. Created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith, who also wrote and lead directed the series respectively, the seven-part series also stars Emmy Award and NAACP Image Award winner Archie Panjabi. Additional cast members at the star-studded event included Christine Adams, Eve Myles, Jasper Britton, Harry Michell, Aimée Kelly, Mohamed Elsandel, Ben Miles and many more.

George Kay and Jim Field Smith at BFI Southbank
George Kay and Jim Field Smith attend the global premiere of "Hijack" at BFI Southbank on June 27, 2023 in London, England. "Hijack” premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
Max Beesley at BFI Southbank
Max Beesley attends the global premiere of "Hijack" at BFI Southbank on June 27, 2023 in London, England. "Hijack” premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
Archie Panjabi at BFI Southbank
Archie Panjabi attends the global premiere of "Hijack" at BFI Southbank on June 27, 2023 in London, England. "Hijack” premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
Idris Elba and Archie Panjabi at BFI Southbank
Idris Elba and Archie Panjabi attend the global premiere of "Hijack" at BFI Southbank on June 27, 2023 in London, England. "Hijack” premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

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. Panjabi will play the role of Zahra Gahfoor, a counterterrorism officer who is on the ground when the plane is hijacked and becomes part of the investigation. The series also stars Christine Adams, Max Beesley, Eve Myles, Neil Maskell, Jasper Britton, Harry Michell, Aimée Kelly, Mohamed Elsandel and Ben Miles.

“Hijack” is produced by 60Forty Films, the production company set up by Emmy Award-winning executive producers Jamie Laurenson and Hakan Kousetta, alongside Kay and Field Smith’s own production company Idiotlamp Productions, and also 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 each serve as executive producers alongside Elba, Laurenson, Kousetta and Kris Thykier.

George Kay, Jim Field Smith, Christine Adams, Idris Elba, Apple TV+ Creative Director, Europe, Worldwide Video Jay Hunt, Apple TV+ Creative Executive Joe Oppenheimer, executive producer Hakan Kousetta, Archie Panjabi, Max Beesley and executive producer Jamie Laurenson at BFI Southbank
George Kay, Jim Field Smith, Christine Adams, Idris Elba, Apple TV+ Creative Director, Europe, Worldwide Video Jay Hunt, Apple TV+ Creative Executive Joe Oppenheimer, executive producer Hakan Kousetta, Archie Panjabi, Max Beesley and executive producer Jamie Laurenson attend the global premiere of "Hijack" at BFI Southbank on June 27, 2023 in London, England. "Hijack” premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
Idris Elba at BFI Southbank
Idris Elba attends the global premiere of "Hijack" at BFI Southbank on June 27, 2023 in London, England. "Hijack” premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 369 wins and 1,478 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

About Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.*

For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.

*Special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device. One offer per Family Sharing group. Plans automatically renew until cancelled. Other restrictions and terms apply; visit apple.com/promo for more information.

Article Assets

Text of this article

Press Contacts

Apple TV+ Press

Press materials for Apple TV+, the new home for the world's most creative storytellers.
Discover