Idris Elba has proven once again that he is one of the most magnetic, charismatic action heroes working in Hollywood thanks to his starring role in Apple TV’s new drama series “Hijack.” Originally thought of as a limited series, the show, created by “Episodes” director Jim Field Smith and “Lupin” creator George Kay, has been renewed for a second season. That means it will compete in the drama category at this year’s Emmys.
That shift means that Elba could earn his first nomination for Best Drama Actor and, boy, would it be deserved. The British thespian turns in another endlessly watchable performance as a suave action hero but actually plays against type here somewhat. While he is usually likable and charming, his character here, who must negotiate peace during the hijacking of a plane flying from Dubai to London, is gruff and unlikable. This allows Elba to deliver one of the best performances of his career, as noted by critics.
Ross McIndoe (Slant) explained: “Elba maintains an effortless air of authority that made him so formidable in ‘The Wire’ and ‘Luther,’ but he gets to play against that type to some degree here. Sam is a high-powered businessman, famous for his abilities as a negotiator, but he’s not an action hero. In fact, he spends much of ‘Hijack’ desperately trying to prevent anything violent from occurring on the plane, even if that means playing nice with the terrorists. It’s a fascinating subversion of the typical power fantasy that actors like Elba are often tasked to embody.”
Angie Han (The Hollywood Reporter) observed: “With some actors, the idea that a basically normal businessman might be this innately persuasive could read as self-aggrandizing, even delusional. In Elba’s strong, steady hands, it becomes the simplest thing in the world to believe Sam is truly that charming. He plays Sam with the self-possession of a man who has nothing to prove to anyone.”
Peter Travers (ABC News) opined: “‘Hijack’ gets the best in Idris Elba, a dynamic screen presence since his days as Stringer Bell on ‘The Wire’ through his quartet of Emmy nominations for ‘Luther’ and movie roles as diverse as Nelson Mandela and Bloodsport in ‘The Suicide Squad…’ Whatever Elba does you can’t take your eyes off him. That makes him perfect in ‘Hijack’ as business negotiator Sam Nelson, a reluctantly divorced dad forced to negotiate with terrorists to save his life and the lives of his fellow passengers.”
Currently, our predicted nominees for Best Drama Actor at this year’s Emmys are Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses”), Dominic West (“The Crown”), Colin Farrell (“Sugar”), Donald Glover (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”), Tom Hiddleston (“Loki”), and Morgan Spector (“The Gilded Age”). Elba is right on the precipice of cracking this lineup along with the likes of several other contenders such as Nathan Fielder (“The Curse”), Ben Mendelsohn (“The New Look”), Walton Goggins (“Fallout”), and Timothy Olyphant (“Justified: City Primeval”).
However, we already know that Emmy voters adore Elba. He is a five-time nominee, having amassed four nominations for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actor for “Luther” in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2016. His other nomination came in 2011 — that was for Best Comedy Guest Actor for “The Big C.” While he didn’t turn any of these citations into victories, Elba is clearly admired by Emmy voters so it makes sense that he is right in the thick of it here for yet another nomination.
This is particularly true as, unlike some other categories, Emmy voters seem to prefer to recognize those previously nominated in Best Drama Actor. Last year, five out of the six nominees were all previous Emmy contenders: Kieran Culkin (“Succession”), Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), Brian Cox (“Succession”), Jeff Bridges (“The Old Man”), and Jeremy Strong (“The Old Man”). The other nominee was Pedro Pascal (“The Last of Us”).
The year before that, four out of the six were previous Emmy nominees: Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), Cox (“Succession”), Strong (“Succession”), and Jason Bateman (“Ozark”). The other two nominees were Lee Jung-jae (“Squid Game”) and Adam Scott (“Severance”). They don’t like newbies very much here and Elba is anything but that. That bodes well for him.
Elba is also a suave, commanding action star. They like this type of performance in this category with recent nominees including Bridges (“The Old Man”), Pascal (“The Last of Us”), Liev Schreiber (“Ray Donovan”), Damian Lewis (“Homeland”), Timothy Olyphant (“Justified”), and Keifer Sutherland (“24”).
Plus, Elba is also a huge movie star and this profile of actor is often nominated in this category. Bridges (“The Old Man”), Steve Carell (“The Morning Show”) and Anthony Hopkins (“Westworld”) are all A-listers who have been recognized here.
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