Yesterday saw the release ofHijackon Apple TV+,the fabulously ludicrous-yet-compelling real-time thriller starringIdris Elbaas Sam Nelson, renowned for his astute business negotiation prowess back on the ground, who unexpectedly becomes ensnared in a hijacked flight, reluctantly assuming the role of an unexpected hero.
The show positionsElba as a man having more brains than brawn, impressive given that Elba is a fridge of a fella. There are also elements ofDie Hard,of course, making his character John McPlane. And then, the real-time element immediately brings to mind the heydays ofKiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer in24.But there’s something about thatcontained space inside a passenger jet flying at 35,000 feet that’s just so damnwatchable.The series also features characters investigating on the ground — air traffic controllers in Dubai and London, Sam Nelson’s estranged family back home, police and homeland security officers tracking the flight, and the terrorists themselves attempting to cover their tracks.
The plot is preposterous of course, butElba manages to pull it off with that magnetic charisma he carries. It would fail to work with many other stars in the role. Apple has released a short behind-the-scenes featurette looking into the making of the series (via IndieWire) which showcases not only Elba’s magnificence but also shows the lengths gone to make the drama as authentic as possible. And how do you make a series set in a plane feel realistic? Just get a plane.
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HijackUses The Volume to Film Inside a Plane
One of the more divisive additions to filming in Hollywood these days isThe Volume - the 360-degree screen which can generate in real-time a backgroundyou want to see to film “on location” but within a studio. Some shows use this badly (looking at you, Boba Fett), butHijackhas found a subtle way of using it by surrounding the plane set with the screen, allowing us to see the world pass by from the windows and cockpit.
Apple has clearly invested heavily in this project which, blatantly, should only have one season given its unique nature — but then, would it surprise any of us if we heard Sam Nelson would be returning for a secondHijacking? Probably not. Based on the series so far, however, it’ll still be well worth the time of everybody watching to buckle up and joinIdris Elbaon another flight.
New episodes ofHijackwill be available on Apple TV+ on Wednesdays. Check out the featurette down below.
