Shooting an action scene on a plane? Hijack stars reveal behind-the-scenes look at new Apple TV+ series!

Kidnapping, what are you talking about?

Told in real time, the Hijack series chronicles the hijacking of a London-bound airliner. During the 7-hour flight, authorities on the ground, including Zahra Ghafoor (Archie Panjab), scramble to find answers. Sam Nelson (Idris Elba), a renowned negotiator in the business world, must use all his wits to save the lives of other passengers. But his very risky strategy could lead to his downfall.

A new episode of Hijack is available on Apple TV+ every Tuesday.

A dizzying production for a first-rate series

The first challenge in this British series is the exoticism of its setting. In the comfortable modernity of the airline’s first class, the contours of the cage gradually take shape, the narrowness of which contradicts the brutal urgency of the situation. Hostage passengers think, make plans, sometimes try to fight the attackers…

An idea that came to screenwriter George Kay (Lupin) not after his imprisonment, but during a train ride: “I was on the Eurostar and the train suddenly stopped– he said at the press conference. Even though I knew everything was fine, the idea flashed through my head. if something happened I looked at other travelers, business people, families and wondered how our group would function if the incident was serious.“

A limited tension that was a real challenge for series director Jim Field Smith to capture: “The most important thing was that we shot almost exclusively inside the plane. This poses two problems: first, to succeed in making this frame interesting, but also to succeed in making the impression of the car moving in flight. And I added a level of complexity by saying that I didn’t want to break the plane into different parts.“

For the hero of the series, filming was more difficult than expected, Idris Elba :”Since we didn’t want to destroy the plane, all the action scenes were done with the means at hand. It adds a lot to the reality of the drama. The fight sequence was quite difficult to film. Fortunately, first class seats leave a little legroom !”

“I remember a real laugh, which was liberating depending on the situation!”

Archy PanjabKalinda Sharma’s Unforgettable Role in The Good Wife Talks AlloCiné About Her Role hi-jack.

AlloCiné: Can you tell us a little bit about your character, Zahra?

Archy Punjabi: I play Zahra, who is an agent of counter-terrorist forces. I am working with the authorities from the ground to try to intercept the plane and rescue the hostages.

Despite her professional involvement in the situation, Zahra is not on the plane. How would he react if that were the case?

It’s an interesting question! I think this is a question that every viewer will ask themselves. Since Zahra is working against terrorism, I think she’ll try to strategize, work with Idris Elba’s character, or negotiate with the hostages. Of course, he won’t disclose that he works against terrorism!

The series takes place in real time. Was it felt on set?

I love the concept of filming in real time, and I think it’s very appropriate for a series where the audience experiences the flight with the passengers. As an actor, it’s also more enjoyable because we shoot the scenes in chronological order. Otherwise, we’re still spending a lot of time re-reading scripts and schedules to figure out what’s already shot or not, sorting it out in our heads. Turning chronologically removes this concern. It also adds a lot of suspense to the series, as a whole!

Your character is very diligent, very decisive. Do you recognize yourself in his professional rigor?

You should ask the people I work with! I’m probably not as abrasive as Zahra, but that’s a quality I appreciate in her. For example, I love how he knocks on doors with great force and determination. I remember injuring myself several times while shooting these scenes!

What is your most memorable memory from this shoot?

I spent most of the shoot in a crisis room where there were six or seven of us, and as the shoot progressed our characters became more and more tense, but we became more and more comfortable with each other. I remember a genuine laugh that was liberating depending on the situation!

Find Hijack on Apple TV+.