Hugh Laurie is playing a crime boss who ends up behind bars. Apple TV has released the first photos of The Wanted Man and set its global premiere for January 6, 2027. The eight-episode series starts with two episodes, then releases one each Wednesday through February 17.
Laurie plays Felix Carmichael, the head of a criminal organization. Someone inside his own firm betrays him, and he is sent to Staplehurst prison. Felix has to survive there while his family, business and money remain at risk outside. His plan is to escape.
What do the first photos show?
The new images put Felix in several very different places. One shows him in a dark room, still dressed like a man in control. Another shows him in prison clothes, walking between guards. That second image gives a much clearer look at the situation he faces after the betrayal.
Apple also shared a photo of Gershwyn Eustache Jnr and Fionn Whitehead near a burning car, plus separate pictures of Gina McKee and Thandiwe Newton. The photos confirm who appears on screen, but Apple has not named most of their characters yet. The cast announcement also lists Hazel Doupe, Elliott Heffernan and Stephen Dillane.
Viewers may know Newton from Westworld, Whitehead from Dunkirk, McKee from My Policeman and Dillane from Game of Thrones. Laurie is best known to many TV viewers for House and The Night Manager. The new show puts him at the center of a prison story rather than a medical or spy drama.
Who is making the series?
George Kay created and wrote The Wanted Man. He previously created Hijack and worked on Lupin. Jakob Verbruggen directs; his credits include The Fall and Dark Matter. Laurie is also an executive producer, alongside Kay, Willow Grylls and Matt Sandford. New Pictures and Observatory Pictures are producing the series.
The announcement does not say who betrayed Felix, and the first photos do not give away how he might escape. Those are questions the show will answer once the episodes arrive. Apple has confirmed the setup, the main cast and the release schedule, but has not released a full trailer with this announcement.
When and where can you watch The Wanted Man?
The Wanted Man premieres worldwide on Apple TV on January 6, 2027. The first two episodes arrive that day. The remaining six are scheduled weekly, with the finale due February 17. It is not streaming yet. Our series page has the cast, release details and the rest of the first-look photos.
