In the Teaser for 'Hostage', Suranne Jones Faces an Impossible Choice
Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy in "Hostage"
(Photo: Netflix)
No one does political thrillers quite like the British. From classics like the original House of Cards and State of Play, to more recent hits like Bodyguard, COBRA, and Treason, there is no shortage of dramas where not only lives, but quite often the fate of the U.K. itself hangs in the balance. Netflix has dropped the first teaser trailer for its latest entry in this popular genre, the forthcoming British series Hostage. A prestige-looking five-part drama that features a pair of powerhouse women at its center, the series follows a high-stakes, high-tension story involving kidnapping, blackmail, international espionage, and a state visit gone very wrong.
Boasting some serious The Diplomat vibes, Hostage stars Suranne Jones (MaryLand) and Julie Delpy (Before Midnight) as a pair of powerful female world leaders. Jones plays the newly elected British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton, while Delpy is Vivienne Toussaint, the first elected female President of France. But Toussaint's landmark diplomatic visit to Downing Street goes badly awry when the British PM's husband is kidnapped and the French president herself is blackmailed, leaving both women to face unimaginable choices about the safety of their families and the future of their countries. As lives hang in the balance and the situation spirals out of control, can they put their differences aside to uncover the plot that threatens them both?
“They have weaponized my family,” Jones’ character declares at the end of the clip, in a tone that's bursting with the sort of threatening intensity that's generally reserved for male action stars. “I will not be threatened. I will not negotiate. My loyalties are to this country. I will not allow it to be held to ransom.” Yes, Ma'am.
Here's the series' synopsis.
When the British Prime Minister’s husband is kidnapped and the visiting French President is blackmailed, the two political leaders both face unimaginable choices. Forced into a fierce rivalry where their political futures, and lives, might hang in the balance, can they work together to uncover the plot that threatens them both?
Alongside Jones and Delpy, the series also stars Corey Mylchreest (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story) as Matheo Lewis, Lucian Msamati (Gangs of London) as Kofi Adomako, James Cosmo (Game of Thrones) as Max Dalton, Hiftu Quasem (The Witcher) as Ayesha, Jim Sturgeon (Mary & George), Isobel Akuwudike (The Road Trip), Ashley Thomas (The Serpent Queen) as Dr. Alex Anderson, and Jehnny Beth (Anatomy of a Fall).
Other cast members include Mark Lewis Jones (The Red King), Martin McCann (Blue Lights), Sophie Robertson (Miss Scarlet), Paul Thornley (Call the Midwife), Zubin Varia (Andor), Amita Suman (Shadow and Bone), Vincent Perez (Shantaram), Flora Montgomery (Showtrial), and Gerald Kyd (The Split).
The five-part series is created and written by Charman, with Isabelle Sieb (The Devil’s Hour) and Amy Neil (The Control Room) splitting directing duties.
Hostage is set to premiere on Netflix with all episodes on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
