Idris Elba’s High-Stakes Thriller Climbs the Charts as Anticipation for Season Two Builds

Apple TV+ has managed to secure another massive hit in its library, and audiences are flocking to it in droves. The high-octane thriller Hijack is currently enjoying a major resurgence in popularity. This renewed interest comes just as excitement reaches a fever pitch regarding the show’s upcoming second season.

Viewers have been binge-watching the first season to prepare for the next chapter of the story. According to recent data from Reelgood, which tracks streaming habits across various platforms, the series has rocketed back into the Top 10 most-watched shows. This is an impressive feat for a series that originally premiered a while ago.

The show’s staying power can be attributed to its intense pacing and star power. At the center of the drama is the charismatic Idris Elba, who plays the lead role of Sam Nelson. Nelson is not your typical action hero or law enforcement officer.

Instead, he is a corporate negotiator with a very specific set of skills tailored for the boardroom rather than the battlefield. The first season followed Nelson as he found himself trapped on a seven-hour flight from Dubai to London. When the plane was hijacked, he had to use his wits and professional strategies to try and save the passengers.

Critics and audiences alike were captivated by the tension of the first season. On the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a strong approval rating of 88 percent. This critical acclaim has undoubtedly helped fuel the current wave of new viewers discovering the show.

As the fanbase grows, news regarding the second season has started to trickle out, adding to the hype. Filming for the new episodes has been underway, and the production has expanded its roster of talent. The most notable addition to the cast is the acclaimed British actor Toby Jones.

Jones is fresh off a career-defining performance in the drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. His involvement in Hijack suggests that the stakes in the second season will be incredibly high. Joining him and Elba are other talented international stars, including Lisa Vicari and Christiane Paul.

Vicari is well-known to streaming audiences for her role in the complex German sci-fi series Dark. Her addition points to the show continuing its trend of appealing to a global audience. While plot details for the new season remain tightly under wraps, fans are speculating about the setting.

It seems unlikely that the show will repeat the exact same scenario of a plane hijacking. The writers will likely transpose Sam Nelson’s negotiation skills into a different, equally claustrophobic or high-pressure environment. The dynamic between Elba and Jones is expected to be a highlight of the new narrative.

Idris Elba has remained one of the busiest and most versatile actors in Hollywood over the last decade. Before taking on the role of Sam Nelson, he cemented his legacy on television with two iconic roles. He played Stringer Bell in the groundbreaking HBO series The Wire and the brooding detective John Luther in the BBC crime drama Luther.

His work on Luther earned him a Golden Globe award and multiple Emmy nominations. Recently, Elba reprised that role in a feature-length film titled Luther: The Fallen Sun, which was released on Netflix. Beyond his dramatic acting, Elba is also a successful DJ and musician, often performing under the moniker DJ Big Driis.

He has also made a significant mark in major film franchises. He joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Heimdall in the Thor series. Additionally, he has become a key part of the Sonic the Hedgehog film universe, providing the voice for the character Knuckles.

His voice work has been so popular that it spawned a spin-off TV series centered entirely on his character. Looking ahead, Elba is set to continue his work in the Sonic franchise with the upcoming third movie. There are also persistent rumors and fan campaigns suggesting he would make an excellent James Bond, though Elba has frequently downplayed these suggestions.

Toby Jones, the co-star for the upcoming season, brings a different kind of prestige to the project. He is a celebrated character actor known for his ability to disappear into roles. Audiences might recognize him as Arnim Zola in the Captain America films or as the voice of Dobby in the Harry Potter franchise.

The format of Hijack is also something that sets it apart from standard procedural dramas. The first season played out in real-time, with each episode covering one hour of the seven-hour flight. This narrative device, famously used in the show 24, ratchets up the tension significantly.

It forces the viewer to experience the passage of time along with the characters. It remains to be seen if the second season will strictly adhere to this real-time format or if it will adopt a more traditional timeline. Regardless of the structure, the combination of a high-concept premise and A-list talent has made this a flagship show for Apple.

As streaming services compete for subscribers, having a reliable hit like this is crucial. The show demonstrates that traditional thriller tropes, when executed well with a charismatic lead, still resonate deeply with audiences. With the second season on the horizon, now is the perfect time for newcomers to catch up on the seven episodes that started it all.

Let us know if you think the second season can possibly match the intensity of the first one in the comments.