Hijack Season 2 Goes Underground as Creators Explain Shift

Why Hijack season 2 couldn’t repeat the plane hijacking plot

When Hijack debuted on Apple TV+, it quickly became one of the platform’s most talked-about thrillers. A hijacked plane, rising tension in real time, and Idris Elba leading the chaos made the first season feel complete in itself.

Which raised an obvious question: how do you follow that without repeating the same idea?

Hijack Season 2 answers it by going in the opposite direction — straight underground. Instead of the skies, the drama now unfolds inside Berlin’s underground train system, dragging Sam Nelson back into danger under very different circumstances.

Why season 2 had to change course

According to series co-creator Jim Field Smith, repeating the exact setup from season 1 was never on the table. Putting Sam through another hijacked plane scenario would have felt lazy and unbelievable.

The creators knew the story had to stay connected to what happened before, but it couldn’t pretend that Sam was the same man. After everything he survived in season 1, bringing him back only made sense if he was emotionally changed — more vulnerable, more conflicted, and pushed further than before.

At its core, season 2 explores how far a person can be pushed when escape isn’t obvious and every choice carries consequences.

Image: Apple TV+

Unanswered questions carried forward

For Elba, the continuation wasn’t about topping the spectacle of the first season. Instead, it was about addressing the questions that season 1 deliberately left open.

Who was really behind it all? Why did it happen? And what did it leave behind?

Season 2 allows those threads to continue rather than starting a completely unrelated crisis. The story builds forward instead of resetting, something Elba has said was crucial for returning to the role.

Why the story goes underground

The shift in setting plays a major role in shaping the new season. Smith explained that after spending an entire series in the air, his instinct was to move to the complete opposite environment.

An underground train system offered darker visuals, tighter spaces, and a sense of disorientation. More than that, it mirrors Sam Nelson’s internal state. He isn’t just trapped physically — he’s navigating his own mental maze, searching for answers while running out of time.

Once the idea landed, the setting naturally shaped the tension, pacing, and emotional weight of the season.

What season 2 brings

The official storyline teases a familiar sense of urgency. Commuters are taken hostage, authorities scramble for control, and Sam Nelson once again finds himself in the middle of a crisis where a single mistake could cost hundreds of lives.

Alongside Elba, several familiar faces return, including Christine Adams, Max Beesley and Archie Panjabi. Season 2 also introduces new cast members such as Toby Jones, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Lisa Vicari and Christiane Paul.

Rather than trying to recreate the shock of season 1, the creators have focused on depth — emotional pressure, unresolved consequences, and a setting that feels just as dangerous in a very different way.

Whether it matches the impact of the first season is now for viewers to decide.