MGM+ Reveals Jon Hamm-Led True-Crime Thriller Series 'American Hostage'
The eight-part Sony Pictures Television drama adapts the acclaimed podcast based on a real-life 1970s broadcast crisis.
Summary
MGM+ has unveiled the official teaser trailer for the upcoming psychological thriller series 'American Hostage'
Jon Hamm stars as 1970s radio broadcaster Fred Heckman who becomes entangled in a 63-hour hostage negotiation
Co-created by Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers the eight-episode drama premieres on September 20
MGM+ and Sony Pictures Television have debuted the first official trailer for American Hostage, an upcoming eight-episode psychological thriller series fronted by Jon Hamm. The television adaptation brings the real-life 1970s broadcast standoff to the screen following its origin as a narrative podcast.
Hamm reprises his audio role as Fred Heckman, a prominent Indianapolis WIBC news reporter who becomes unexpectedly thrust into a high-stakes 63-hour crisis. The plot centers on hostage-taker Tony Kiritsis, portrayed by Giovanni Ribisi, who dials into Heckman’s live call-in show while holding a victim at gunpoint with a 12-gauge shotgun, demanding an immediate public platform.
Co-created and scripted by Mad Dogs duo Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers, the narrative captures the internal debate within the newsroom before deciding to air the live confrontation. The production features a supporting ensemble including Kristoffer Polaha, William Jackson Harper, Mireille Enos, Jonathan Tucker, and Kat Cunning, with Hamm, Ryan, and Myers also serving as executive producers.
American Hostage officially premieres September 20, 2026, on MGM+, running for eight episodes through its finale on November 1.
