The action series inspired by Die Hard will return in 3 months with an explosive new season
In three months, the Die Hard heir tightens the screws. Can Idris Elba keep his cool when the battleground shrinks and the pressure spikes?
Idris Elba is strapping back in as Sam Nelson, but this time the crisis rumbles beneath Berlin. Hijack pivots from a hijacked jet to a hostage standoff in the U-Bahn, a pressure-cooker setup that nods to Die Hard and subway thrillers like The Taking of Pelham 123. The Apple TV+ second season arrives January 14, 2026, reuniting creators George Kay and Jim Field Smith and adding faces such as Toby Jones and Christiane Paul. Berlin’s tunnels promise a colder, tighter battlefield where every station stop could be the last.
The return of Hijack and its explosive new season
Mark your calendars! On January 14, 2026, Apple TV+ will debut the much-anticipated second season of Hijack. Idris Elba is back as the ever-resourceful Sam Nelson, leading the action-thriller series into uncharted territory. After the intense first season set aboard a hijacked airplane, the stakes are higher, the locations are grittier, and the tension is absolutely palpable.
From high skies to underground chaos
The explosive premise of season 2 takes a dramatic turn, focusing on a hostage scenario unfolding within the Berlin U-Bahn, the city’s iconic subway system. This shift isn’t just a change of scenery; it opens up a labyrinth of suspense where speed, uncertainty, and public vulnerability collide.
In season 1, viewers were introduced to Sam Nelson’s razor-sharp wit and ability to think on his feet. Now, the stakes seem even more personal. And what better backdrop than Berlin, a city with its own storied history of tension, espionage, and high-stakes drama?
An inspiration rooted in action classics
Season 2 draws comparisons to some of the most iconic hostage thrillers. The influence of Die Hard is unmistakable, and the U-Bahn setting also recalls gripping films like Die Entführung der U-Bahn Pelham 123 and Stoppt die Todesfahrt der U-Bahn 123. Hostage dramas thrive on confined spaces brimming with vulnerability, exactly the kind of intensity fans of Hijack seek.
What keeps the audience hooked is the blend of an unpredictable story, tight locations, and performances that pull you into every moment. Idris Elba certainly delivers on this front.
Familiar faces and new talents
Elba isn’t taking on this wild ride alone. Returning cast members Christine Adams, Max Beesley, and Archie Panjabi reprise their roles to keep continuity intact. Joining them is an exciting lineup of new talents: Christian Näthe, Lisa Vicari, Karima McAdams, Christiane Paul, Clare-Hope Ashitey, and Toby Jones, all poised to match the series’ unrelenting pace.
The creative minds behind Hijack, George Kay and Jim Field Smith, are also back, ensuring the show’s character-driven urgency remains intact. With weekly episode drops following an initial two-episode premiere, viewers will have time to savor each twist and turn.
Berlin: the heartbeat of action-thriller drama
Berlin’s mesmerizing yet gritty backdrop adds an extra layer to the narrative. Known for stories of intrigue and danger, the city feels like a natural fit for a hostage drama unfolding underground. The maze of subway tunnels mirrors the entrapment and chaos at the core of the show’s themes, the perfect playground for Sam Nelson’s resourcefulness.
How will Elba’s Sam Nelson navigate this perilous labyrinth of danger? Audiences will find out in January, in a season promising pulse-pounding action, intricate storytelling, and a cast firing on all cylinders.
