Hijack Season 2 Cast Guide: Idris Elba and Who Else Is Back on the Train

Apple TV’s hit thriller Hijack is moving its tense action from a plane to a train for its second season. The show, which became one of the streaming service’s most-watched dramas, will premiere on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. This new eight-episode season will see skilled negotiator Sam Nelson, again played by Idris Elba, in a high-stakes crisis on the Berlin underground. While Elba is the central star returning, he is joined by several familiar faces from the first season and a group of talented new actors.

The Returning Stars of Hijack Season 2

Four key actors from the first season will reprise their roles, continuing stories that began on the hijacked flight from Dubai to London.

Idris Elba leads the cast again as Sam Nelson, the corporate negotiator who must use his skills in another impossible situation. For his performance in the first season, Elba received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Speaking about returning to the role, Elba previously told Variety:

“I’d like that, but I just don’t want to put him on another hijack. I’m open to that character coming back. I think if people were compelled to like the character, then I’m in.”

Christine Adams returns as Marsha Nelson-Smith, Sam’s estranged wife and a physics professor. The first season’s crisis brought them closer, and the new threat in Berlin is expected to further involve Marsha in Sam’s dangerous world.

Max Beesley is back as DI Daniel O’Farrell, a Metropolitan Police officer and Marsha’s current boyfriend. The trailer suggests the hijackers will use Sam’s family as leverage, which could create significant tension in Daniel and Marsha’s relationship as he works on the case.

Archie Panjabi reprises her role as DCI Zahra Gahfoor, Daniel’s former partner in the police force. She will likely take a lead role in the ground response to the Berlin train crisis. A moment in the trailer shows Daniel questioning her about Sam’s involvement, indicating possible conflict within the authorities.

New Faces Joining the Crisis in Berlin

The second season expands its story with several new actors, many of whom bring international experience to the Berlin-set thriller.

The new cast members confirmed for Hijack Season 2 are:

• Toby Jones (known for Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Detectorists)
• Clare-Hope Ashitey (known for Seven Seconds, Top Boy)
• Christian Näthe (known for Ballon, German cinema)
• Lisa Vicari (known for Dark, Django)
• Karima McAdams (known for Dune: Prophecy, The Wheel of Time)
• Christiane Paul (known for Counterpart, German film and TV)

The specific characters these actors will play have not been officially detailed. However, the inclusion of respected German actors like Näthe, Vicari, and Paul suggests their roles will be integral to the Berlin-based story.

The New Crisis: From a Plane to an Underground Train

The setting and stakes change dramatically for Sam Nelson’s second outing. The official synopsis states that in the new season, “a Berlin underground train and its commuters are taken hostage, while authorities scramble to save hundreds of lives”.

Sam is once again at the center of the crisis on board, where his negotiation skills will be tested in a confined, moving space with approximately 200 passengers at risk. The action will split between Sam’s efforts on the train and the work of law enforcement, led by characters like Zahra and Daniel, on the ground.

Release Schedule for Global Audiences

Hijack Season 2 will follow a weekly release pattern on Apple TV+. The season consists of eight episodes total.

• Premiere Date: The first episode will be released globally on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
• Schedule: Following the premiere, one new episode will arrive each week.
• Season Finale: The eighth and final episode of the season is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

The first season of Hijack is available to stream now on Apple TV+.

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