Jon Hamm stars in new MGM+ thriller series ‘American Hostage’

MGM+ has released the official trailer and key art for ‘American Hostage’, an eight-episode psychological thriller series starring and executive produced by Jon Hamm. The series is scheduled to premiere on September 20, 2026, with a two-episode launch, followed by weekly installments through November 1.

Based on an acclaimed scripted podcast, the series is set in the 1970s and dramatizes the true story of Fred Heckman, a prominent Indianapolis radio reporter. The plot follows the life-or-death crisis that ensues when armed hostage-taker Tony Kiritsis, played by Giovanni Ribisi, demands a public platform via Heckman’s live radio program. The narrative explores the ethical dilemmas faced by media professionals when a hostage crisis is broadcast in real time.

Co-created by Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers, the production from Sony Pictures Television is set for a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The cast also includes Kristoffer Polaha, William Jackson Harper, Mireille Enos, Jonathan Tucker, and Kat Cunning.