Idris Elba Looks Awesome In First Look At New Action Series

Idris Elba stars in Hijack on Apple TV+.

By Chad Langen
| Published 6 mins ago

Idris Elba is keeping himself extremely busy, with a slew of exciting projects in his pipeline. One notable project in his lineup is the Apple TV+ action thriller Hijack, which is slated to hit the streamer on June 28. Recently, Apple debuted the first trailer for the forthcoming feature, giving us our first look at the seven-part miniseries.

The series, which Idris Elba also executive produced, unfolds in real-time, offering a gripping narrative that alternates between the viewpoints of passengers aboard the flight and a dedicated team of counter-terrorism specialists and negotiators. As the flight inches closer to running out of fuel, with just seven hours remaining, the passengers and investigators must swiftly strategize to ensure the safe rescue of the hostages and everyone on board.

Hijack showcases a dual narrative with two protagonists at its core. Idris Elba portrays Sam Nelson, a resourceful business negotiator known for his ability to think on his feet during tense situations, while Archie Panjgabi takes on the role of Zahra Gahfoor, a determined counter-terrorism officer leading the hijacking investigation. Rounding out the cast are Mohamed Elsandel, Holly Aird, Kate Phillips, James Burrows, Ben Miles, Max Beesley, and Eve Myles.

Apple TV+ gave the green light to the miniseries in April 2022, with Idris Elba taking on the dual role of lead actor and executive producer. Production on the project commenced in May and successfully concluded in October. George Kay penned the series, and Jim Field Smith directed the initial three episodes.

Earlier this year, Idris Elba delighted fans by reprising his iconic role from the beloved television series Luther in the Netflix film Luther: The Fallen Sun. The movie follows the titular character, a brilliant but troubled detective, as he finds himself entangled in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game with a merciless serial killer. The cast also includes familiar faces such as Dermot Crowley, who returns as Martin Schenk.

This October, Idris Elba is set to lend his voice once again to the character Knuckles in a live-action spin-off series based on the beloved Sonic the Hedgehog films. The series is set in the timeline between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the hotly anticipated Sonic 3, scheduled to hit theaters on December 20, 2024. In the series, Knuckles takes on the role of mentor, agreeing to train Wade as his protégé and impart the ancient wisdom of the Echidna warrior to him.

Further out, Idris Elba is set to star in, direct, and produce the thriller Infernus for Millennium Media. In the film, he will portray Donovan Kamara, a U.N. human rights activist assigned to investigate the illegal detention of refugees in a U.S. black site prison. As the situation escalates, Kamara faces the challenge of safely rescuing the refugees and confronting a brilliant criminal mastermind.

The Emmy Award-nominated actor is also attached to star in the upcoming action thriller Heads of State by director Ilya Naishuller. While plot details are being kept under wraps, the screenplay was written by Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Harrison Query. The film’s supporting cast includes Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Carla Gugino, John Cena, Jack Quaid, and Steven Cree.