Betrayed and behind bars, the head of a notorious crime syndicate must escape prison to save his empire. Hugh Laurie stars in “The Wanted Man,” Apple TV’s new eight-episode crime thriller premiering January 6, with new episodes rolling out weekly through a February 17 finale.

The Plot

Laurie plays Felix Carmichael, the elusive and powerful head of a notorious British crime syndicate known as the Capital. When Carmichael is betrayed by someone inside his own firm and sent to the notorious Staplehurst Prison, he’s forced to draw on the very brutality that built his criminal empire just to survive behind bars. With his family, his firm, and his fortune all at stake, Felix decides there’s only one option left: escape. As the traitor works to dismantle the empire he built, Carmichael must risk everything in a daring breakout, willing to stop at nothing to exact his revenge — even if it means becoming a wanted man once more.

Series Snapshot

Detail	Information
Series	The Wanted Man
Platform	Apple TV
Premiere Date	January 6, 2027 (first 2 episodes)
Episodes	8, weekly release, finale February 17
Lead	Hugh Laurie as Felix Carmichael
Creator/Writer/Showrunner	George Kay (Hijack, Lupin)
Director	Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall, Dark Matter)
Key Cast	Thandiwe Newton, Fionn Whitehead, Gina McKee, Hazel Doupe, Elliott Heffernan, Stephen Dillane
Production	New Pictures & Observatory Pictures
Filming	May–December 2025, in the UK

The Cast

Laurie both stars and executive produces, taking on a rare criminal protagonist role rather than the antagonist or morally ambiguous figures he’s more often played. He’s joined by Thandiwe Newton, Fionn Whitehead, Gina McKee, Hazel Doupe, Elliott Heffernan, and Stephen Dillane in a notably stacked supporting ensemble.

Behind the Scenes

The series comes from George Kay, creator of Apple TV’s Idris Elba-led “Hijack” and co-creator of Netflix’s “Lupin,” who serves as creator, writer, and showrunner. Jakob Verbruggen, known for directing episodes of “The Fall,” “London Spy,” and Apple TV’s “Dark Matter,” directs. The series is co-produced by New Pictures — the production company behind “War” and “Catherine the Great” — alongside Kay’s own Observatory Pictures.

The Release Format

Apple will release the first two episodes together on January 6, followed by one new episode every Wednesday, with episode three landing January 13, continuing through to the season finale on February 17. The weekly rollout marks a deliberate departure from a full-season drop, giving the show’s central mystery seven weeks to build.

Why It Matters

Marking another major television role for Laurie, best known for “House” and “The Night Manager,” “The Wanted Man” gives him a meatier, morally complex lead role that plays directly into his strengths as a performer skilled at portraying charismatic yet troubled men. With a January launch positioning it at the start of Apple TV’s 2027 drama slate, the series looks set to be one of the streamer’s higher-profile early-year offerings.

FAQs

When does The Wanted Man premiere?

January 6, 2027, on Apple TV, with the first two episodes releasing together.

How many episodes does the series have?

Eight episodes, released weekly through a February 17 finale.

Who plays the lead role in The Wanted Man?

Hugh Laurie, as crime boss Felix Carmichael.

Who created The Wanted Man?

George Kay, known for Apple TV’s “Hijack” and Netflix’s “Lupin.”

What is the show about?

A powerful crime boss, betrayed and imprisoned by someone in his own organization, plots a daring escape to save his empire and take revenge.