Apple TV+ is expanding its crime drama slate with The Wanted Man, an eight-part thriller led by Hugh Laurie and created by George Kay, best known for Hijack and Lupin. The series marks Laurie’s return to a leading role and pairs him with a high-caliber cast that includes Thandiwe Newton, Fionn Whitehead, Gina McKee, Hazel Doupe, Elliott Heffernan, and Stephen Dillane.
Set within the upper echelons of Britain’s criminal underworld, The Wanted Man follows Felix Carmichael (Laurie), the powerful and enigmatic head of a sprawling crime syndicate known as “The Capital.” After two decades of operating with near-total impunity, Carmichael is finally arrested and locked away in Staplehurst, a notorious maximum-security prison. But his downfall is just beginning—someone close has betrayed him, and with his empire under threat from within, Carmichael plots a bold escape and sets out on a mission for revenge.
The series is written and executive produced by Kay and produced by New Pictures (an All3Media company) and Observatory Pictures. Executive producers Willow Grylls and Matt Sandford, both known for their work on British crime and historical dramas, join the production team, while Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall, London Spy) directs.
Though Apple has yet to announce a premiere date, The Wanted Man adds to an increasingly robust lineup of British and European crime dramas on the platform. It joins series like Hijack, starring Idris Elba, and the ongoing spy drama Slow Horses, led by Gary Oldman.
The show arrives as part of Apple’s continued investment in original, prestige-driven storytelling—a space where Apple TV+ has been steadily building a foothold with its mix of crime dramas, high-profile literary adaptations, and character-focused thrillers.
