TV Talk: Apple TV+ Idris Elba airplane-set thriller ‘Hijack’ takes off

Mix elements of the 1970s “Airport” movies with “Air Force One” and a dollop of real-time storytelling (think: “24”) and you have the key ingredients in Apple TV+’s “Hijack,” an entertaining seven-episode thriller starring Idris Elba.

Now streaming, “Hijack” won’t be confused with great television but it is pretty good entertainment.

Writers/creators George Kay (“Lupin”) and Jim Field Smith, who directed the filmed-in-Pittsburgh 2010 movie rom-com “She’s Out of My League,” center “Hijack” on corporate negotiator Sam Nelson (Elba) whose Kingdom Airlines flight from Dubai to London gets hijacked shortly after takeoff.

The series chronicles in real time what’s happening on the plane as well as on the ground.

On the plane, Sam tries to keep his fellow passengers (and the hijackers) calm. While early episodes are a little too slow-paced, “Hijack” grows more engrossing over its run. Surprisingly, Apple is rolling the show out with a two-episode premiere and then weekly installments. Usually that’s my preferred release schedule, but “Hijack” proves quite bingeable, especially in its back half.

Part of what makes the early episodes less compelling is that what’s happening on the ground is mostly homefront melodrama as viewers meet Sam’s ex- (Christine Adams), who now has a police officer boyfriend (Max Beesley), and Sam’s son (Jude Cudjoe), who isn’t supportive of his mom’s new relationship.

But as those on the ground begin to get hints that something is wrong with this flight, the tension builds around wary politicians and a counter-intelligence officer (Archie Panjabi, “The Good Wife”) and with an air traffic controller (Eve Myles, excellent here as she was in “Torchwood”).

While some might argue “Hijack” would be better as a one-off film, that’s certainly been done before and better, particularly in “Air Force One.” What makes this take unique is the ability to better flesh out all the characters, particularly the other passengers on the plane. The show does this pretty well with the exception of one odd choice: A passenger is shot at the end of episode two and while there are some visual cues about the victim’s identity, “Hijack” doesn’t explicitly identify the deceased until episode six and the show skips over the particulars of how that person was shot.

“Hijack” also skimps on clearly explaining the hijackers’ motivation. Having watched the whole series, I’m still not sure I know who was ultimately in charge of the hijackers vs. who was a cog in a crime syndicate machine.

But the ratcheting tension, Elba’s ever-empathetic performance and some surprising twists make “Hijack” a trip worth booking.

Kept/canceled

Hulu renewed “Nine Perfect Strangers” for a second season.

Peacock will bring back Pete Davidson’s “Bupkis” for a second season.

“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” executive produced by former Pittsburgher Tim Federle with Bethel Park’s Joe Serafini in a recurring role, will stream its final season Aug. 9.

NBC canceled game show “The Wheel” after a single season.

Paramount + canceled “The Game,” “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,” “Queen of the Universe” and “Star Trek: Prodigy” and the shows, along with season five of “Inside Amy Schumer,” will be removed from the streaming service, which relaunched as Paramount + with Showtime this week. Season two of “Prodigy” has yet to air but will be completed and shopped to other outlets.

The “Magnum P.I.” reboot has been canceled again, this time by NBC. The remainder of season five has yet to air.

Channel surfing

Dan + Shay, comprised of Shay Mooney and Wexford native and 2006 North Allegheny grad Dan Smyers, will share the first red double chair on season 25 of NBC’s “The Voice,” airing in early 2024. … Ryan Seacrest will take over as host of “Wheel of Fortune” when Pat Sajak retires at the end of the 2023-24 TV season. … CNN debuts docu-series “See It Loud: The History of Black Television” at 9 p.m. July 9. … 87% of members of the Directors Guild of America voted to ratify a new contract. … Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers Productions secured a sponsorship agreement for PBS’s “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” with Lovevery, a subscription early learning program, that will feature Lovevery messaging in advance of episodes on PBS Kids streaming platforms beginning next month.