Apple TV is adding another high-stakes crime thriller to its lineup, and it's bringing a familiar face back to the streamer. The Wanted Man, a new mob drama with a prison-break twist, has officially locked in its premiere date: Wednesday, January 6, 2027. The first two episodes will drop together, followed by a weekly rollout every Wednesday through February 17, 2027.
The series stars Hugh Laurie as Felix Carmichael, a crime boss whose world implodes when someone inside his own organization betrays him. He ends up in Staplehurst, a notorious prison where survival demands brutality. As Carmichael fights to stay alive behind bars, the outside world keeps moving—and his grip on his family and fortune starts to slip. Faced with losing everything, he decides to do what many inmates have dreamed of: break out.
If that setup sounds familiar, you're not wrong. The premise echoes Paramount+'s Tulsa King, where Sylvester Stallone's Dwight Manfredi exits prison after 25 years to find his old life gone and a new criminal landscape waiting. Both shows explore what happens when a mobster is forced to adapt to a world that left him behind. But The Wanted Man flips the script by keeping its protagonist inside the system—at least at first—and turning his escape into the central engine of the story. For fans of Tulsa King's upcoming season, this could be the perfect companion piece.
A Reunion Behind and in Front of the Camera
The series comes from creator, writer, and showrunner George Kay, marking his second collaboration with Apple TV. Kay previously created the Idris Elba-led hijacking thriller Hijack, which has run for two seasons on the platform. He's also the mind behind Netflix's Lupin, returning for a fourth season on October 23, and the HBO Max legal thriller War, which airs Thursdays.
For Laurie, The Wanted Man is a return to Apple TV after his role in the third season of the Israeli espionage drama Tehran. The British actor is, of course, beloved for House and more recently for his turns in Veep and The Night Manager. Here, he's playing against type as a hardened criminal rather than a brilliant diagnostician or a charming politician.
The supporting cast is stacked with recognizable talent: Thandiwe Newton (Westworld), Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk), Gina McKee (My Policeman), Hazel Doupe (Say Nothing), Elliot Heffernan (Blitz), and Stephane Dillane (Game of Thrones). That's a mix of prestige TV veterans and rising stars, suggesting Apple TV is aiming for both critical acclaim and broad appeal.
Why This Could Be Your Next Binge
Prison break stories have a built-in tension that's hard to resist. Whether it's Prison Break, Escape at Dannemora, or the countless films built around elaborate getaways, audiences love watching someone outsmart a system designed to hold them. Add a mob backdrop and a betrayal plot, and you've got a recipe for compulsive viewing. If you're the kind of viewer who devours nerve-shredding thrillers, this one should be on your radar.
The eight-episode first season will unfold over six weeks, giving viewers plenty of time to theorize about who betrayed Carmichael and whether he'll make it out. Apple TV hasn't announced whether the show will return for a second season, but given Kay's track record and the star power involved, a renewal seems likely if the premiere performs well.
For now, mark your calendars: The Wanted Man premieres globally on Apple TV on January 6, 2027. Stay tuned for more updates as the release date approaches.
