Apple continues attracting high-profile talent for their original films and series after being the first streaming platform to win Best Picture at the Oscars for “CODA.” Their television division continues to grow with some quality original content and they’ve landed yet another popular actor after securing folks in the past such as Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses“), Tom Hiddleston (“Essex Serpent“), Jason Momoa (“Chief of War“), and Elisabeth Moss (“Shining Girls“).
Variety reports on another big acquisition for the streamer as beloved British actor Idris Elba (“Hobbs & Shaw“) will play accomplished business negotiator Sam Nelson in the new series “Hijacked.” It comes from writer George Kay (“Lupin,” “Criminal”) and will be directed by Jim Field Smith (“Criminal,” “The Wrong Mans”), who will also executive produce alongside Elba.
As the title suggests, Elba’s Sam Nelson has to use his fast-talking skills when a plane he is riding is hijacked. However, his high-risk strategy could be his undoing and put others in danger.
“Hijack” is part of Elba’s Green Door Pictures‘ overall deal with Apple and is expected to be the first of many projects they’ll develop together.
Elba recently appeared in James Gunn‘s “The Suicide Squad,” voiced Knuckles in “Sonic The Hedgehog 2,” and will be seen next in George Miller’s (“Mad Max: Fury Road“) fantasy drama “Three Thousand Years of Longing” that co-stars Tilda Swinton, which is set to premiere next month at the Cannes Film Festival.
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Elba has wrapped on other upcoming projects such as the “Luther” feature film at Netflix based on his popular U.K. detective series and the killer lion flick “Beast.”