Idris Elba has teased what’s to come in season two of Hijack. Reprising his role as corporate negotiator Sam Nelson, the actor explained that his character has a different look this time around, which was “intentional”.
Speaking with Deadline, Elba noted: “Psychologically, I was trying to put him in a very different place. Physically, there is a difference to the way he looks from Season 1, and that was intentional. When you find out what is going on through the season, you realise this is a broken man who is trying to find those answers.”
Echoing this sentiment, the show’s director and co-creator Jim Field Smith said: “Our whole guiding principle with Sam was that I wanted him to start Season 2 as a completely different character from the Sam Nelson you’ve left behind. In the very first frame when the camera resolves on him this season, you’re supposed to think, ‘What the hell’s happened to this guy?'”
While little is known about Sam’s arc in season two, what we do know is that season one’s plane hijacking has had a profound impact on him. So, when the character finds himself back in a similar situation, this time on a Berlin U-Bahn, his world is turned upside down.
An Apple TV synopsis reads: “In the thrilling second season of Hijack, a Berlin underground train and its commuters are taken hostage, while authorities scramble to save hundreds of lives. Sam Nelson (Elba) is at the heart of the crisis on board, where one wrong decision could spell disaster.”
Apple TV
Related: Best streaming services
Returning alongside Elba, Christine Adams, Max Beesley and Archie Panjabi are all back for season two. Rounding out the cast, newcomers Christian Näthe, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Lisa Vicari, Toby Jones, Karima McAdams and Christiane Paul will also feature.
Hijack, which is currently one of Apple’s top TV dramas, has acquired a loyal fanbase since its debut in 2023. Likewise, the series has garnered critical acclaim, with season one holding a Certified Fresh score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Apple TV+
Among them, The Daily Telegraph described Hijack as “A lightweight but irresistible new thriller,” while Rolling Stone added: “There’s enough story to cover the length of the flight, and Elba and the creative team keep things taut when we’re in the air.”
Echoing this sentiment, Cinéfilo Serial weighed in, remarking: “It’s an intense and entertaining thriller that manages to maintain its tension based on good narrative twists, an ensemble story that involves several settings, and a cast that remains credible.”
Season two of Hijack will land on Apple TV+ on January 14.
The new edition of Living Legends, celebrating music icon Dolly Parton, is here! Buy Dolly at 80 in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.
Megan is a freelance news reporter for Digital Spy.Â