Apple TV+’s Hijack, which premiered on June 28, 2023 with the release of the first two episodes, is a seven-episode, edge-of-your-seat thriller told in real-time. As the title suggests, the series involves the hijacking of an airplane. Five-time Emmy nominee Idris Elba (Luther) stars as Sam Nelson, one of the trapped passengers and a man who just happens to possess a specific set of skills that makes him the perfect negotiator.
The action in Hijack takes place onboard the fictional Kingdom Airlines 29 (KA29), originating out of Dubai and bound for London. The series utilized a real Airbus A330 plane (retired from service) to bring that claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a situation completely out of your control to life.
For series star Idris Elba, shooting in such a confined environment might have been difficult, but it paid off onscreen.
“This is a real plane, just in a studio, and the confinement of that just really applied to the drama. Even for the crew, you know, figuring out how we’re going to do this top shot without being able to take the roof off was about trying to figure out how to do that,” explained Elba during a press conference hosted by Apple TV+ and featuring cast members Archie Panjabi and Max Beesley, director/executive producer Jim Field Smith, and writer/executive producer George Kay.
Idris Elba continued: “It all sort of led into the claustrophobia of it, so the crew, the actors, everyone was sort of tight. It was almost like watching a documentary being made while being in the documentary.”
Director Smith believes that using an actual plane allowed the production to feel more in the moment, with scenes playing out as they would if this were an actual hijacking.
“When you’re dealing with a hijacking, it’s about people reacting and trying to figure out live how to get through the next second, how to get through the next minutes. And so, we were able to bring some of that into the actual making of it. We used a lot of unbroken shots. We moved often with Idris’ character, Sam; we’re moving with him through the plane,” explained Smith. “So, we did a lot of that for real. And there was a lot of like literally people having to hand the camera to each other and stuff like that.”
“But, again, that was, as Idris says, all about wanting to feel engaged in the drama of it and not feel like it was artifice or that we were sort of sitting back and watching it from afar. I wanted it to feel like you’re in that hijack,” said Smith.
Hijack’s timing worked out perfectly for Idris Elba. George Kay had the idea for the series at the same time that Elba and Apple TV+ were looking for a project to do together.
“This came as just an idea from George and then became the story beats and then the scripts. But I knew really much very early in the journey when I sat with George and talked about what we were trying to achieve and what the story and the perspective of this story was,” offered Elba.
“For me as a producer and a talent, I was sort of interested in doing something that was going to really hit the mark in television. I love television, love making television, I have done [it] for years. I play in the film space as well, and I think the sort of merger between film and what is film and what is television has gotten smaller, that sort of line. And working with George was just like it was a joy. I was a fan of his work and wanted to make that happen.”
The plane wasn’t taken apart for shooting, which made choreographing the action sequences a challenge.
“We designed all the action sequences with what we’ve got. Sam does a lot of sneaking around the plane, you know. Me sneaking on a plane is like, ‘Bro, what are you doing? We can see you, you know?’” said Elba, laughing. “So, it meant that I had to even get lower, or we had to figure out another way. And that was actually really, again, adds to the sort of drama and reality of this thing.
The fight sequences were certainly hard to shoot. They were choreographed within the space. If we hurt ourselves, we just took a breather and carried on. Because not to say that we didn’t care, but it’s just we didn’t try and change the choreography not to hurt ourselves because, in this instance, the fight sequences were based on what would we do rather than this is a fight sequence, you know?
And one of the memorable ones for me is the one with Neil (Maskell’s) character, and this gun and this tiny kitchen space. I’m a big man, so I could just…but it just wasn’t easy to maneuver around and fight this guy, especially if my character is not a fighter. He’s fighting out of desperation and he’s frightened of getting shot. Not only is he frightened of getting shot, but he doesn’t want the plane to go down because of a bullet.”
Elba continued: “So, there’s all this stuff that was part of the design of the action, and I think really puts the audience in that [place]. We’ve all been on a plane. We’ve all sat in a chair and looked over and seen that person from this perspective. We’ve all looked down the aisle and looked behind us, and that’s what Jim and the team really designed well and implemented into the action sequences.”
Strangely, considering the subject matter and what he endured on the shoot, Idris Elba’s view of flying has changed since starring in Hijack. Instead, he just feels more informed about flying and planes.
“I’ll sit on a plane and I’ll be like, ‘Oh, the A380. Oh, different trim, interesting.’ How do I know this sh*t?” said Elba, laughing. “I love flying. I love traveling, and I’ve always said hello to staff on planes, off planes, just by way of people wanting to say and wave and whatnot, so yeah, it just felt interesting to be on a plane again after making this show.”
Idris Elba’s character, Sam, is a key player in the events on the plane. But Idris Elba would react completely differently than his character in a similar situation.
“Well, look, you know, I would shut up and mind my own business. No, but I wouldn’t be Sam, for sure. I just wouldn’t have thought out that clearly,” admitted Elba. “But if I had an opportunity to speak to a hijacker and I got eye contact and I thought for a second that person would listen to me, I would go for that and be like, ‘Dude, this is very stupid.’ Or, ‘Dude, can you get me a drink, please? Just quickly get me drink.’ I don’t think I would be the hero guy that’s trying to outsmart the hijackers. I doubt that very much. But I certainly would want to help the staff and say, ‘Look, if you need a volunteer to help you do something, I’m in 100%.’”
The 45-minute press conference covered a lot of ground, but one question in particular jumped out. Idris Elba was asked if, in terms of being an actor and being offered a variety of roles, it is a blessing or a curse to be a good-looking man.
His response?
“Wow. Look, I’m sure it’s all subjective. I’m not sure I’m good-looking to everyone,” laughed Elba. “You know, my size and shape and all my life sort, ‘Oh, you’re a big lad,’ and I’ve taken on roles that sort of feed into that a little bit. And in this particular time, I was really interested in playing against that. Even though Sam is what he is, he isn’t always the sort of hero in that sense, you know? It’s more cerebral. He’s quite vulnerable in the sense that he’s got lots going on internally with his family. And I really was interested in that. So, it played against type, if you like.
And, yeah, you know, some camera angles are not sexy, man, especially on a plane, let me tell you. When Jim’s got the camera right up my nozzle, I’m like, ‘Are you sure that’s the angle, bro? Can I just shift to the light?’ He’s like, ‘No, no, no, this is perfect!’”
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New episodes of Hijack stream on Wednesdays on Apple TV+ through August 2, 2023.
