Hijack creator unveils next Apple TV+ thriller

The creator of Idris Elba’s hit drama Hijack, George Kay, has unveiled his latest thriller series for Apple TV+.

Kay will write and executive produce The Wanted Man through his indie Observatory Pictures, in co-production with The Long Shadow indie New Pictures. The indie are All3Media stablemates, after Kay set up shop last year.

The eight parter will see Hugh Laurie take on a role reminiscent of his character in BBC1 hit The Night Manager. He will play the dangerous head of a British crime syndicate who, after 20 years, is finally placed in prison. When it becomes clear that he has been betrayed by one of his own, he risks a daring escape to take his revenge.

The series will also star Thandiwe Newton, Fionn Whitehead, Gina McKee, Hazel Doupe, Elliott Heffernan and Stephen Dillane.

Joining Kay as executive producers are New Pictures’ chief executive Willow Grylls (Des) and exec producer Matt Sandford (The Long Shadow), while the director is Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall).

As well as 2023’s real-time drama Hijack - which is set for a second series from 60Forty and Idiotlamp – Kay is the writer behind Netflix’s mystery thriller Lupin, starring Omar Sy, and recent ITV true-crime dramas The Long Shadow and Litvinenko.

All3Media label New Pictures is also behind scripted series including No Escape (Paramount+), Champion (BBC1/Netflix), and Protection (ITV1).