Apple TV+ keeps doubling-down on prestige thrillers, and its newest gamble is The Wanted Man, an eight-episode series that puts Emmy-winner Hugh Laurie back in anti-hero mode.
If you’ve missed the razor-sharp intensity he brought to House and The Night Manager, bookmark this page: The Wanted Man looks poised to become the next must-stream obsession.
A High-Concept Logline That Fits Laurie Like a Glove
In The Wanted Man, Laurie plays Felix Carmichael, the brilliant but merciless boss of a London crime empire called “The Capital.” Untouchable for two decades, Carmichael is finally arrested and thrown into the notorious Staplehurst Prison. The twist? His capture is an inside job.
Betrayed by someone within his inner circle, Carmichael escapes from custody and launches a white-knuckle hunt for the traitor—even if that means becoming the most hunted fugitive in the United Kingdom.
The Wanted Man blends heist mechanics, prison-break tension, and a cat-and-mouse revenge arc. It’s the kind of role that lets Laurie weaponize charm, menace, and that signature sardonic wit—all in his native British accent, no less.
From the Mind Behind Hijack
Showrunner George Kay has earned a reputation for tight, propulsive scripts (Lupin, Criminal, Hijack). He created The Wanted Man under his Observatory Pictures banner and will write every episode. Jakob Verbruggen (London Spy, The Alienist) directs the entire season, suggesting a single visual grammar rather than a revolving door of episodic voices.
Apple TV+ has quietly become Kay’s home turf—Hijack starring Idris Elba is already one of the platform’s most-binged titles of 2024. Partnering again makes strategic sense for both sides: Apple keeps its pipeline of grown-up thrillers flowing, and Kay gets a streamer willing to invest in A-list casting and cinematic production values.
A Stacked Ensemble Beyond Hugh Laurie
| Actor | Character | Why You Know Them |
|---|---|---|
| Thandiwe Newton | Maggie Latimer, MI5 liaison chasing Carmichael | Emmy-winner for Westworld |
| Fionn Whitehead | Cal Drake, Felix’s loyal protégé | Star of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk |
| Gina McKee | DCI Alice Hewson, London Met investigator | Bodyguard, Notting Hill |
| Hazel Doupe | Elise Carmichael, Felix’s estranged daughter | Acclaimed indie drama Float Like a Butterfly |
| Stephen Dillane | Robert Hartley, rival kingpin | Stannis Baratheon in Game of Thrones |
| Elliot Effernan | Rory Wells, the mole inside The Capital | Netflix’s upcoming Blitz |
Newton’s casting, in particular, promises a cerebral duel between equals.
Expect her MI5 agent and Laurie’s criminal mastermind to share the kind of crackling onscreen chemistry that fueled Killing Eve.
Plot Beats to Watch For (Spoiler-Free)
- The Inside Man
Episode 1 reportedly begins with Carmichael’s arrest during a meticulously staged police raid—only for viewers to learn the operation was orchestrated by someone in his crew. - The Prison Escape
Staplehurst is a fictional maximum-security fortress inspired by real British institutions. Verbruggen’s résumé suggests claustrophobic tension and morally murky violence as Felix engineers his breakout. - The Double Hunt
Once loose, Carmichael must dismantle The Capital’s new leadership while dodging MI5, rival gangs, and media frenzy. Kay describes the show as “a race against the news cycle,” hinting at social-media leaks and 24-hour coverage complicating every move. - Family Ties
Hazel Doupe’s Elise sits at the emotional core. Long alienated from her father, she becomes both leverage for enemies and the Achilles’ heel Felix can’t ignore.
How The Wanted Man Fits Apple TV+’s Evolving Brand
Apple’s playbook has two lanes: glossy comfort comedies (Ted Lasso, Shrinking) and sleek genre thrillers (Slow Horses, Hijack). The Wanted Man plants its flag firmly in the latter, trading buddy-banter for grit while still pushing premium production value.
Crucially, the series expands Apple’s footprint in the British crime space, complementing Gary Oldman’s Slow Horses but aiming for darker territory—think Peaky Blinders by way of Michael Clayton.
Release-Date Window and Production Status
Filming begins this summer on location across London, Kent, and the Canary Wharf financial district. Insiders whisper a late-2025 premiere, but Apple TV+ could slot the show into its early-’26 corridor if post-production requires extra polish.
Either way, a teaser trailer is likely in spring 2025, aligning with the streamer’s typical 6-to-8-month marketing ramp-up.
Why Fans of Hugh Laurie Should Be Excited
- Return to Leading-Man Status: After standout but supporting turns in Veep and Tehran, Laurie commandeers the screen again.
- Morally Gray Terrain: Felix Carmichael isn’t the noble Dr. House; he’s closer to Night Manager’s Richard Roper—only scrappier.
- Full-Throttle Accent: No transatlantic vocal contortions—just pure British menace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Wanted Man based on a book?
No. Unlike Slow Horses, this is an original concept from George Kay, though fans of John le Carré and Michael Connelly will feel at home.
Will there be multiple seasons?
Apple ordered a single eight-episode run, but Kay has hinted at “a multi-chapter art-heist structure” if season 1 performs.
Where can I stream Hugh Laurie’s previous Apple TV+ work?
Check out Tehran Season 2 in the same app for an espionage appetizer.
The Bottom Line
The Wanted Man wields a dream pairing—Hugh Laurie’s sardonic gravitas and George Kay’s ruthless storytelling. With an ensemble that pits Thandiwe Newton against Laurie and a premise packed with betrayals, jailbreaks, and gangland chess, Apple TV+ might have its next global addiction.
Bookmark this page and follow our Apple TV+ hub for trailer drops, behind-the-scenes photos, and the official The Wanted Man release date.
Until then, keep your eyes on Staplehurst Prison—the city’s most dangerous inmate is about to vanish.
