Idris Elba’s Apple TV Action Thriller Gets Cautious Season 3 Update After Season 2 Finale

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Be warned – this contains spoilers for both seasons of Hijack! After facing crises on planes and trains, viewers are curious to see what challenge awaits Sam Nelson, the character played by Idris Elba, in future installments.

Now that season two of the Apple TV+ thriller Hijack has finished and its future is uncertain, the show’s creator, Jim Field Smith, is discussing potential storylines. The series centers on Sam Nelson, a skilled negotiator who finds himself dealing with hostage crises – first on a flight to Dubai, and then on a train in Berlin.

The second season of Hijack concludes with Sam rescuing his wife, Marsha (Christine Adams), and discovering that Stuart Atterton (Neil Maskell), not the original hijacker John Bailey-Brown (Ian Burfield), was responsible for his son Kai’s (Jude Cudjoe) death. Now that justice has been served and his family is safe, Sam might finally be able to move forward, potentially even starting a new career. Director Field Smith recently discussed this possibility in an interview with Variety.

The creator wondered if there was more to Sam’s story. While they could easily come up with another high-stakes situation, the important question was whether it would actually benefit the character. They explained, “It’s not about if we can repeat a similar plot – we definitely could. It’s about whether we should. I’ve just finished delivering this season, so that’s what I’m focusing on right now.”

Check out Field Smith’s additional comments below:

If Apple decides to revisit the ‘Hijack’ concept, my main concern wouldn’t be how they do it, but why. The setting – whether it’s a boat, an e-bike, a limo, or even a submarine – is secondary. It could even move beyond the original ‘Hijack’ format entirely. Ultimately, the important question is, what compelling story can we tell with the character Sam? The police precinct itself isn’t crucial; it’s about where Sam’s journey can take him.

Field Smith is carefully considering the possibilities for renewing the show. It took six months to get a second season of Hijack approved, and Idris Elba will return only if the new storyline is original and avoids repeating the premise of a hijacking. So far, Hijack has uniquely used the confined settings of airplanes and ships, and featured Elba playing both the captor and the negotiator.

The showrunner shared some ideas for a potential third season, explaining that it would need to naturally follow the storyline established in season two.

Since Stuart is still alive, there’s clearly ongoing conflict between him and the other characters, which opens up several possibilities for the story. We definitely don’t want to portray Sam Nelson as someone who’s just constantly unlucky. It’s important that each season feels connected – season 2 built on season 1, and a potential season 3 would need to continue that pattern. We can’t just keep making the show simply because it’s popular without a meaningful narrative throughline. That’s not something I’m interested in, and I don’t believe audiences would be either.

Season two reveals a more ruthless side of Nelson, driven by a desperate need to avenge his son’s murder. However, critics felt the storyline wasn’t particularly original and largely repeated themes from the first season. While the initial season earned a high 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, season two of Hijack received as low as a 20% score.

As of now, the show has a 73% approval rating, and the final episode might shift some critics’ opinions. Even though the second season had some problems, Hijack quickly became popular on streaming platforms before it even launched, suggesting people would likely tune in for another season. However, the creator is committed to only continuing the story if there’s a compelling reason to do so – a refreshing approach in today’s TV world.

Hijack season 2 is complete and streaming on Apple TV.

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2026-03-05 17:18