Despite being based on a true story from 49 years ago, MGM+’s American Hostage feels very timely. The crime thriller is centered on Indianapolis resident Tony Kiritsis taking his mortgage broker, Richard “Dick” Hall, hostage. In order for his truth to be told and to get the justice he feels he deserves, Tony demands to be put on the air with respected local radio broadcaster Fred Heckman. As Fred does his best to keep both men alive and report the truth over the course of multiple days, he faces public scrutiny and increasing pressure from the authorities.

Jon Hamm plays Fred, reprising the role that he previously voiced in the scripted American Hostage podcast series. The podcast also adapted the 1977 hostage crisis, as did the movie Dead Man’s Wire. While Tony, played by Bill Skarsgård, was positioned as the protagonist of the film, Hamm’s Fred is the main character of the television series, although Giovanni Ribisi’s Tony still receives a great deal of focus in this iteration.

Along with Fred and Tony, the show takes time to explore Dick (Kristoffer Polaha), Fred’s wife, Barbara Heckman (Mireille Enos), Fred’s journalist colleague, Ben Hairston (William Jackson Harper), and Dick’s wife, Ibby Hall (Kat Cunning). While there is plenty to dig into with the characters, and the plot is engaging, the series particularly excels with the questions it raises, even when there are no clear answers.

American Hostage Is Eerily Relevant In 2026

The public’s relationship with and view of the media is a divisive issue in 2026, and initially seems nothing like American Hostage. Fred is widely respected by everyone and seen as a voice of reason, truth, and authority. Even Tony sees him this way, and it is precisely why he chooses Fred to be the one person he will share his story with on the air.

In today’s world, there generally isn’t the same attitude toward journalism and the media as a whole. There aren’t many Fred Heckmans anymore who are inherently trusted by all for their reporting, and there are instead frequent public claims of bias, misinformation, and, of course, “fake news.” However, as the hostage crisis drags on, it gradually becomes more reminiscent of present-day issues with the media and unsolved societal problems.

As the only line of communication to Tony and the captive Dick, Fred quickly becomes more than a journalist in this case, essentially also acting as a hostage negotiator while working alongside FBI Special Agent Cormac McNally (Jonathan Tucker) and local law enforcement. The inevitable loss of impartial journalism, government individuals insisting on what should and should not be reported, and concerns from Ben and Fred’s other colleagues about the journalistic integrity at stake feel remarkably relevant and close to the issues of today.

There’s the matter of how the business side of journalism interferes, usually for the worse, as well. While Fred, Ben, and their colleague Ginny (June Laporte) are concerned with covering the story responsibly, their station manager, Jerry Morris (Joe Cobden), obsesses over the financial ramifications and capitalizing on the station’s suddenly increased publicity, regardless of what it means for Tony and Dick. At the same time, Jerry provides some much-needed comic relief amid the show’s ongoing tension.

What also feels very timely are the factors that lead Tony to take Dick hostage, along with how the public views Tony. The series never condones what he’s doing, but also makes it clear that a broken financial system, greedy corporations, and an untreated mental health crisis have brought him to this breaking point. 49 years later, these problems are just as rampant, if not more so.

Meanwhile, the public largely romanticizes and roots for Tony. This is partly due to Fred’s empathetic reporting, communicating with him as a human being and letting him share his side of the story instead of just reducing him to being an unhinged kidnapper.

The public’s overall attitude feels very reminiscent of what happened after software engineer Luigi Mangione killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, with public opinion largely favoring Mangione. Both cases tap into widespread frustration of being taken advantage of by corporations, while dangerously glorifying the violent actions taken.

These parallels may speak to why the story of this hostage crisis continues to be told in different forms nearly 50 years later, from a podcast and The Dead Man’s Wire movie to a streaming series. It’s a compelling case in its own right, but also asks larger questions that we are still trying to answer about systemic problems and impossible situations.

Other Than Fred & Tony, American Hostage’s Characters Are Largely Underdeveloped

American Hostage does both Fred and Tony justice, with both Hamm and Ribisi delivering strong performances. Hamm brings a calm and measured empathy to the character, which is tested by increasingly complex moral questions and self-doubt bubbling underneath the surface. Ribisi makes Tony feel unhinged, while also bringing charisma, naivety, and a palpable pain that make him equally enamoring and tragic to watch.

From Tucker’s smug portrayal of Special Agent McNally to Harper’s no-nonsense approach to Ben, the rest of the cast is also great. That being said, the writing and the overall story don’t give them the same opportunities to have their characters feel as fully developed.

Flashbacks and the fantasies in his mind offer insight into Dick while he’s held hostage, how he’s different from the rest of the Hall family, and arguably the least guilty of Tony’s accusations, but it never feels as though the series delves deeply enough into his character.

Outside of Fred and Tony, Barbara gets the best development, as her husband’s central role in the crisis thrusts their family into the public spotlight, requires her to get involved in the case, and causes her to question what she wants out of life. The culmination of this journey feels very rushed and abrupt, though. Similarly, there’s buildup that doesn’t get a fully satisfying ending when it comes to Ben, Ginny, and their relationship.

With Fred and Tony ultimately being the most important characters in this story, their development being done well is what’s most important, though. During some of the scenes where their conversations are aired on the radio, the series uses multiple frames on the screen at once to showcase how they are both reacting, which proves to be an effective visual storytelling technique.

American Hostage has previously been reported to be an anthology series. The story of the Tony Kiritsis case is complete after season 1, but if the show is renewed for future seasons, it will be intriguing to see which real-life hostage incidents they adapt next, and whether they can resonate in the same way that this one did.

The first two episodes of American Hostage arrive on September 20 on MGM+, followed by weekly episode releases through November 1.