MGM+’s upcoming series American Hostage is adding more star power to its cast. Actor Jonathan Tucker has joined the psychological thriller in a major recurring role, set to play an FBI profiler in the 1970s-set story that stars Jon Hamm and Giovanni Ribisi.
The series, which started filming this fall in Winnipeg, is based on a real-life hostage crisis and the scripted podcast of the same name.
Who Jonathan Tucker Will Play in ‘American Hostage’
Jonathan Tucker will step into the role of FBI Special Agent Cormac McNally. His character is a criminal profiler from the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. Agent McNally is described as very confident in his own skills but often skeptical about the abilities of local police. His unusual personality could be genuine, or it might be a tactic he uses to mask his habit of analyzing everyone around him, whether they are allies or suspects.
The True Story Behind ‘American Hostage’
American Hostage is an anthology series, meaning its first season will tell a complete story, with future seasons potentially exploring different events. The first season is set in the 1970s and is based on a true story.
The plot follows Fred Heckman, a beloved Indianapolis radio reporter played by Jon Hamm. Heckman’s life is turned upside down when a hostage-taker named Tony Kiritsis, played by Giovanni Ribisi, demands to be interviewed on Heckman’s popular news program. This forces the journalist into the middle of a dangerous, life-or-death negotiation.
The Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team
The series features an impressive ensemble cast. In addition to Hamm, Ribisi, and Tucker, the show includes Kristoffer Polaha, Mireille Enos, and William Jackson Harper as series regulars.
The project is co-created and executive produced by Shawn Ryan, the veteran producer behind hit shows like The Night Agent and S.W.A.T., and Eileen Myers, known for her work on Big Love. Jon Hamm also serves as an executive producer on the series. The show is produced by Sony Pictures Television.
A Closer Look at Jonathan Tucker’s Career
Jonathan Tucker is no stranger to intense and complex roles. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of MMA fighter Jay Kulina on the DirecTV drama Kingdom, a performance that earned him widespread critical praise. His career includes a mix of film and television, from early roles in The Virgin Suicides and the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to more recent parts in the NBC sci-fi drama Debris and the Sundance prize-winning film Palm Trees and Power Lines, which got him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance.
Fans will soon see Tucker in other projects as well, including the Netflix thriller series I Will Find You and the film Humiliation.
Behind the Scenes of the New Series
Production for American Hostage is underway, with filming taking place in Winnipeg, Canada. The series was officially greenlit in April. The first season is planned for eight episodes.
The show is based on the scripted podcast of the same name, which also featured Jon Hamm in the lead role of Fred Heckman. By adapting the podcast, the series aims to bring this tense, real-life event to a new audience.
William Jackson Harper, who joined the cast in a lead role, will play Ben Hairston, Fred Heckman’s mentee at the WIBC radio station. As Heckman becomes more deeply involved in the hostage negotiation, Harper’s character faces a professional dilemma, forced to choose between loyalty to his mentor and upholding his journalistic integrity.
Mireille Enos plays Barbara, the wife of Jon Hamm’s character, adding another layer to the personal stakes of the story.
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