Netflix drops first look at new political thriller series — and it already sounds like a compelling binge-watch
As a sucker for juicy drama (with a dash of political chess and personal peril), I've already added 'Hostage' to my summer watchlist.
Jones stars as Prime Minister Abigail Dalton, whose world is flipped upside down when her husband is kidnapped during an international summit. Standing across the table is French President Vivienne Toussaint, played by Julie Delpy, who herself is being blackmailed.
From the Netflix Tudum reveal (which revealed this series was originally titled 'The Choice'), we also got a peek at Dalton delivering a speech outside 10 Downing Street, Delpy in contemplative poses, and the two leaders caught in uneasy alliance.
Netflix hasn't dropped a trailer yet, but judging by the premise and the cast, this one sounds like a tense treat. And I'm sure anyone who enjoys a good summer binge-watch will want to tune in when 'Hostage' lands in August.
So, if this thriller has piqued your interest as well, here's everything to know about 'Hostage' before it premieres on Netflix this August.
Along with the release date and first-look images, Netflix also revealed the official 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.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
'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?'
The five-episode series marks Suranne Jones' Netflix debut, where she not only takes the lead role but also serves as an executive producer. The show is penned by Matt Charman, known for his work on 'Bridge of Spies' and 'Treason.'
Jones told Netflix: 'I'm thrilled to be on Netflix, in something I'm really proud of. It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time. We'd talked about projects previously, but for me, it was about finding the right thing. Hostage was perfect — me and Matt together, backed up by this brilliant, supportive team. I loved it.'
Charman also added: 'I've been dying to find the right story to tell with Suranne and I honestly believe what she's done with this character is going to blow the Netflix audience away. An embattled British PM in the middle of a fight for her country and her family — she's fierce, ruthless, and you can't take your eyes off of her.'
The cast also includes Julie Delpy, Corey Mylchreest, Lucian Msamati, Ashley Thomas, James Cosmo, Martin McCann, and Jehnny Beth.
Netflix describes this series as 'a political thriller with a captivating performance from Jones at its center.' Diplomatic visits are complicated enough under normal circumstances, but in 'Hostage,' it seems like the stakes are sky-high and nothing goes according to plan.
Political thrillers aren't always my go-to, but I'm definitely intrigued by 'Hostage.' And that mainly comes down to its cast and the fact that the story leans just as much into personal stakes as it does global ones. Either way, I'm already invested, and I haven't even seen a trailer yet.
Plus, a limited series is easy to binge-watch, especially when there's only five episodes. If Netflix sticks the landing with this one, 'Hostage' could easily be one of the standout thriller shows of the year.
As a reminder, 'Hostage' lands on Netflix on August 21. In the meantime, see what's new on Netflix in June 2025 or check out these gripping thriller movies now.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
31 minutes ago
- Newsweek
US Must Recognize Palestine Amid Gaza Starvation Horror, Says Jill Stein
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. must immediately follow French President Emmanuel Macron's lead and recognize a Palestinian state as a "famine-made-in-Israel" sweeps Gaza, Jill Stein has said. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated in recent months, with mounting international pressure on Israel and warnings of mass starvation. Images released last week of emaciated children have shocked the world. "Of course Palestine deserves statehood, as long declared by the United Nations," Stein told Newsweek. "But this is not the first order of business as famine-made-in-Israel sweeps the Gaza Strip. Israel is conducting the fastest starvation campaign in modern history, according to the U.N. Rapporteur on Food. Over 2 million lives are in immediate peril, over half of them children." Hidaya, a 31-year-old Palestinian mother, carries her sick 18-month-old son Mohammed al-Mutawaq, who is also displaying signs of malnutrition, inside their tent at the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 24, 2025.... Hidaya, a 31-year-old Palestinian mother, carries her sick 18-month-old son Mohammed al-Mutawaq, who is also displaying signs of malnutrition, inside their tent at the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 24, 2025. More than 100 aid organizations and human rights groups warned on July 23, that "mass starvation" was spreading in Gaza, as the United States said its top envoy was heading to Europe for talks on a possible ceasefire and aid corridor. More OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images The Green Party 2024 presidential candidate said the crisis "is the intended consequence of Israel's genocidal ban blocking food, water, electricity and fuel from reaching the 'human animals' of Gaza, as announced by then Defense Minister Gallant in October 2023 and ramped up 80 days ago." The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has denied what it called "the false claim of deliberate starvation" in Gaza. On Sunday, the Israeli military began a limited pause in fighting in three parts of Gaza for 10 hours a day as part of a series of measures announced to address the humanitarian crisis. Israel said the military carried out several aid airdrops into Gaza over the weekend and would establish humanitarian corridors. Naeema, a 30-year-old Palestinian mother, carries her malnourished 2-year-old son Yazan as they stand in their damaged home in the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 23, 2025. More than 100 aid... Naeema, a 30-year-old Palestinian mother, carries her malnourished 2-year-old son Yazan as they stand in their damaged home in the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 23, 2025. More than 100 aid organizations and human rights groups warned on Wednesday that "mass starvation" was spreading in Gaza, as the United States said its top envoy was heading to Europe for talks on a possible ceasefire and aid corridor. More OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters Palestinians have long campaigned for an independent state comprising the occupied West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza. Israel has occupied these territories since the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel is largely opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state, and even more so after the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack by Hamas militants, which left around 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Israel's subsequent war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, over half of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Israel has restricted aid into Gaza, stating, without evidence, that Hamas was using shipments to bolster its position. It has also accused the U.N. of failing to cooperate on the distribution of aid. The World Food Program warned in a statement that a third of Gaza's population of around 2 million were not eating for days. It said that nearly half a million people were enduring famine-like conditions. Mohammed al-Mutawaq, an 18-month-old Palestinian boy suffering from medical issues and displaying signs of malnutrition, lies on a mattress inside a tent in the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 24, 2025.... Mohammed al-Mutawaq, an 18-month-old Palestinian boy suffering from medical issues and displaying signs of malnutrition, lies on a mattress inside a tent in the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 24, 2025. More than 100 aid organizations and human rights groups warned on July 23, that "mass starvation" was spreading in Gaza, as the United States said its top envoy was heading to Europe for talks on a possible ceasefire and aid corridor. More OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images What to Know Macron announced Thursday that France will recognize Palestine as a state, expressing outrage at the Palestinian death toll and starvation in Gaza. It was a bold, but largely symbolic, diplomatic move. Once formalized at the U.N. General Assembly in September, France will become the biggest Western power to call for a Palestinian state. More than 140 countries recognize Palestine as a state. Stein, who placed the war in Gaza at the forefront of her 2024 presidential election campaign, said the U.S. must immediately follow suit. "Having provided 80% of weapons, funding and diplomatic cover for this genocidal assault, the US fully shares responsibility with Israel," she said. "We must stop blocking Palestinian statehood, which is supported by at least 75% of U.N. members. But for Palestinians to survive to populate this state, we must first adopt an immediate ban on military and economic aid to Israel until it complies with international law, ends its siege, allows aid to flow, and agrees to a cease fire and an end to genocide and occupation." Israel denies it is committing genocide in Gaza. It says it is prepared to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile. Hamas has rejected these demands. People gather as a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft drops humanitarian aid on the northern Gaza Strip on July 27, 2025. Two Jordanian and one Emirati plane on dropped 25 tonnes of humanitarian aid over... People gather as a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft drops humanitarian aid on the northern Gaza Strip on July 27, 2025. Two Jordanian and one Emirati plane on dropped 25 tonnes of humanitarian aid over the Gaza Strip, Jordanian state television reported on July 27. More BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying Stein told Newsweek: "In short, the world is recoiling in horror as we witness the utter dismantling of international law, human rights and basic decency. This is a threat not just to Palestine, but also to the people of Israel, whose future in a full-blown apartheid authoritarian state is bleak, as noted by Holocaust scholar Omer Bartov. It is also a threat to people of the world including Americans, whose position as top dog in the global order is shakier by the day. We too will be vulnerable in a world ruled by the law of the jungle, rather than the law of nations currently under attack." Macron wrote in his statement on X on Thursday: "The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved." Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, condemned Macron's decision, saying in a statement: "Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launchpad to annihilate Israel—not to live in peace beside it." President Donald Trump, responding to Macron's announcement on Friday said: "What he says doesn't matter. He's a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight." Palestinian children shove to receive a meal at a charity kitchen in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on July 22, 2025. The head of Gaza's largest hospital said 21... Palestinian children shove to receive a meal at a charity kitchen in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on July 22, 2025. The head of Gaza's largest hospital said 21 children have died due to malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory in the past three days, amid a devastating assault by Israeli forces. More AFP via Getty Images Israeli Permanent Representative to the U.N. Danny Danon said in a statement shared with Newsweek: "Neither international conferences disconnected from reality nor unilateral statements at the U.N. will lead to peace. "Macron's decision to recognize a Palestinian state after the massacre of Oct. 7 and precisely at a time when Hamas is still holding hostages is a disgraceful reward for terrorism. Anyone who ignores the reality on the ground—that Israel has no partner for peace—harms not only Israel but the stability of the entire region." Tom Cotton, a Republican Senator from Arkansas, responded to Macron's statement by saying on X: "This is a shameful endorsement of terrorists. The best way for this conflict to end is to back Israel in its righteous mission of rescuing the hostages and defeating Hamas." Palestinian walk carrying sacks of flour near Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on July 27, 2025, after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered into northern Gaza coming from the Zikim border crossing. Jordanian and Emirati... Palestinian walk carrying sacks of flour near Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on July 27, 2025, after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered into northern Gaza coming from the Zikim border crossing. Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on July 27, as Israel began a limited "tactical pause" in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. More BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images What Happens Next Israel said the "tactical pause" in the heavily-populated areas of Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and will increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, wider ceasefire efforts remain in doubt. Israel and the U.S. on Thursday withdrew negotiating teams from Qatar, where talks had been taking place. They blamed Hamas for the breakdown, with Israel saying "alternative options" were being considered to talks.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hosting tips we've learned from the royals
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. If there's one thing the royals know how to do well, it's marking an occasion. From lavish gala dinners to ceremonies upholding centuries-old traditions, events attended by - as well as those organized by - the British Royal Family are usually an elaborate affair. With the Royal Family's lives very much in the public eye, we've managed to learn a few hosting tips along the way, from how to hold a teacup in public to, most recently, stylish presentation tips from Meghan Markle's Netflix documentary, With Love, Meghan. Here are hosting tips we've learned from the royals covering how to greet guests in a regal style at a dinner party, invitations, menus, and table manners. As well as some tips on how to elevate simple dishes and make welcome drinks feel personal and unique. In other words, everything you need to bear in mind while hosting a dinner party fit for royalty. During her hit Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, Meghan Markle (or Sussex, as she corrects one guest in the show) says one of the most important parts of hosting is to ensure guests have something to snack on as soon as they arrive. "Never let a guest arrive without something to feed them on the table," she advises viewers while explaining her love of crudités platters. Another of Meghan's clear priorities when she has guests round is to ensure she's seen to be on top of her housework, as well as her cooking skills. She says when awaiting an LA chef for dinner in an episode of With Love, Meghan, "I need to impress this man! Not just with my doughnuts - with my tidiness, with my kitchen savvy, my cleanliness." A quick cleaning session after each task makes cooking and baking a lot less of a messy job. Meghan explains in an episode of With Love, Meghan, "So, just as with cooking, I will always have like a garbage vessel. "Everything stays organised, clean as you go," Meghan explained. "Lili has made a song out of it," she said, before singing herself: "Clean as you go – clean, clean, clean, clean." Lady Elizabeth Anson, a royal party planner who has worked with the British Royal Family (and is a first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II and a niece of the late Queen Mother), told the New York Times, "Lady Elizabeth uses high-end e-vite service Paperless Post. But clarified that wherever possible, it's best to send a physical invite and put some time and effort into it, as cheap invites make people "imagine there's going to be acidic wine and miserable food". Windsor and royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has previously revealed exactly how the royals drink their tea, according to reporting from Reader's Digest. "The royals love their tea time, so it's especially important that they hold their cups correctly," he explains. "You pinch the handle with your thumb and index finger, so they meet in the middle rather than looping through the handle. Every time you drink, you look into the cup to show control and make sure the tea doesn't go all over. Kate does this very well.' Fresh flowers will always instantly brighten up a dinner space. Meghan revealed in an episode of With Love, Meghan, "First thing I do is see what colour I gravitate to, and then everything goes from there. "Kind of think about it like an outfit, and once you pick the base look, you have to accessorise in a way that makes sense and matches." "The Duchess of Cambridge is known to be an excellent hostess," Myka Meier, the founder of Beaumont Etiquette, told Woman's Day. "She loves to cook, host, and is known to personally serve her guests. "While she may love to throw a party, Catherine also must be the perfect guest, as she attends many parties annually, personally and professionally, and spends long weekends with the royal family or Christmas lunch as a guest of the Queen at the Sandringham Estate." "If you have nine guests, you should serve a selection of at least three foods," explains Myka Meier, the founder of Beaumont Etiquette, when advising on royal hosting. "Include a vegetarian option, and make them small enough to eat in one bite. Serve with cocktail napkins and offer toothpicks for oily foods. (Nobody wants to shake hands with greasy fingers.)" Meghan's one-pot pasta dish had mixed reviews online after With Love, Meghan aired, but her guest and long-time friend, make-up artist Daniel, had only good things to say about this easy-to-prepare dish. "This is literally cosy," Daniel said in appreciation. Meghan explained to viewers how she often opts for a one-pot dinner to save on prep and washing up. This is something that Kate Middleton is thought to be extremely good at. "As the host, your job is to speak to and engage each of your guests, making sure everyone is happy, comfortable, and feels welcome," says Myka Meier, the founder of Beaumont Etiquette. One of Meghan's dinner party tricks was to personalise her margaritas according to her guests' likes and dislikes. In With Love, Meghan, she made a margarita base and then different syrups for each guest, including a spicy mix for those who like a little heat with their cocktail. Personalized labels also add a thoughtful touch. "When it comes to banquets, all the menus are traditionally written in French, even if they're describing English dishes; that's just the way it's done," Tom Parker Bowles told Harper's Bazaar. "Happily, the Queen speaks flawless French, and she has the most incredible memory, so she remembers what every single guest likes and doesn't like." Make sure you're clear on what you're serving guests and feeling organised before a dinner party, if you want to host like a royal. 'She's [Queen Elizabeth II] intricately involved in what's on each menu, which is important if you're hosting the president of France or Japan,' Tom Parker Bowles told Harper's Bazaar. In With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, focuses on presentation a lot, using simple adjustments to make her dishes look more attractive. For example, on her crudité platter, she artfully arranges peas still in their pods, prompting her guest to say, "Why doesn't anyone ever present peas like this?!" There's no need to overcomplicate things. "A party with good table wine and good pasta or good sausages and mash can be just as much of a success as one with Krug, caviar, oysters and lobster,' party planner Lady Elizabeth told the New York Times. 'It's not about expensive ingredients. It's about people." "Typically, ' the Duchess Slant' is used when a lady has to sit for an extended amount of time while keeping poise and posture," says Myka Meier, the founder of Beaumont Etiquette. This is seen as a more elegant way to sit on a sofa or chair, perhaps during a drinks reception before dinner, and you'll notice it's a familiar posture for all the royal women. Holding a glass by its stem rather than the bottom will prevent heating the liquid, and you'll often see the royals adhering to this rule. When serving, remember that wine should typically be poured only to just below the widest part of the glass, according to traditional rules of etiquette. Another thing we learned from With Love, Meghan is that the Duchess really likes edible flowers - she sprinkles them everywhere. While the merits of doing so on one's own breakfast may be more questionable, when it comes to a finishing touch for a dessert on a fruity cocktail, they look stylish and sweet, particularly in the summer months. Dehydrated fruits were also popular with the Duchess during the first season of With Love, Meghan. This timeless garnish will instantly elevate a drink and can be easily made at home using an air fryer or by slowly heating slices in the oven on a low setting. Try lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange, depending on the notes in the cocktail. This is a big one for the Royal Family - they're always extremely discreet. When royals need to use the restroom, they won't announce the details and instead will excuse themselves quietly. 'When they get up, they cross their knife and fork so waitstaff know they'll continue to eat when they come back,' royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams explains regarding how the royals break away from the table at a dinner event. Windsor and royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams advises a modest dress code if you want to make like a royal at a dinner party. "The outfit has to be modest, elegant, and appropriate for the occasion, and it should never distract from the royal's role or risk causing a scandal or public debate,' he told Reader's Digest. A firm, assertive handshake is typical among members of the Royal Family. 'The handshake should be firm. The thumb goes up, the fingers [go] together, shake for two pumps," advises royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams when it comes to greeting guests. Another fun presentation hack picked up from With Love, Meghan, is creating signature ice cubes with flowers or fruit. However, she advises against using tap water. "I've made this mistake. Do not just use tap water," she said. "Otherwise, the ice cubes just come out a little cloudy, and you want to see the flower." A royal bathroom will be well thought out, but it won't have candles or reed diffusers, Myka Meier, the founder of Beaumont Etiquette, explains. "The Duchess [Catherine] will also probably have lightly scented soap and paired hand cream. Many upper-class British homes prefer bar soap to liquid, so the Duchess may use that in her private quarters." Food writer and critic (and the Duchess of Cornwall's son!) Tom Parker Bowles previously told Harper's Bazaar, "Everything I've learnt about the Queen's preferences is from Mark Flanagan, the personal chef to the Queen. She likes seasonal ingredients - asparagus, lamb - and food from the estate, such as grouse or venison from Balmoral. 'She'll have pheasants from Sandringham (in season from October to February), and she even has her own cheese made using milk from the cows at the royal dairy in Windsor.' A cake makes a beautiful centre piece if having guests over for a special occasion, and according to Meghan Markle in With Love, Meghan, a naked cake is best. While baking in the Netflix show, she said about the cake she's made: "There's something really satisfying about a cake that is bare on the outside but she is so beautiful on the inside and you just don't know how good she is until you go deep and you get to know her better." Duchess Meghan loves a fruit or veggie platter. "We have a veggie platter, crudites, every day in our house,' she said in the Netflix show, With Love, Meghan. "Even for our kids, I think what's been so nice and why they love eating vegetables is because it looks colourful and fun." Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Netflix Forges Groundbreaking Bundling Deal With Top Middle East Broadcaster MBC Group
Top Middle East broadcaster MBC Group has forged a groundbreaking partnership with Netflix under which the U.S. streaming giant will play alongside its Shahid streamer on MBC's recently launched MBCNOW entertainment content aggregator. The newly created bundle will combine Netflix and Shahid in addition to MBC's linear TV channels, under one single subscription. More from Variety Adam Sandler Remembers Cameron Boyce In Subtle 'Happy Gilmore 2' Tribute Netflix Adapts Hit Korean Reality Show 'Physical 100' in Italy Film and TV Help Drive Madrid's GDP, Economic Growth as They Consolidate as Strategic Priorities for the Region This first-of-this-kind partnership for Netflix in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) follows similar carriage deals recently struck between major TV networks in Europe and streaming services, starting with Netflix and French broadcaster TF1 and followed by Prime Video and France Televisions, which is another French broadcaster, and by Disney+ and Britain's ITV in the U.K. As of December 2024 Shahid – which is the MENA region's top streamer – had 4.4 million subscribers, while Netflix had 3 million subs, according to the most recent figures from global analyst Omdia. 'This groundbreaking partnership is one for the books,' said Fadel Zahreddine, group director of emerging media at MBC GROUP is a statement. 'To have two streaming giants – Shahid and Netflix – come together under one platform is something never seen before in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and wider MENA, and we're very excited for what's to come,' the executive added. 'This is definitely the future of streaming and content consumption,' noted Bhanu Chaddha, MBC Group's director of distribution and TV products. Commented Mohammed Al Kuraishi, head of business development and partnerships, Middle East and Africa at Netflix: 'We're thrilled to have MBC Group join forces with Netflix to bring its content to our audiences under the convenience of a single subscription.' The MBC/Netflix bundle combines Shahid's vast library of Arabic TV shows, films, and documentaries – including a substantial number of original productions – along with Netflix's full catalogue. The bundle will give customers 'a saving of more than or 21% compared to individual subscriptions,' according to the statement. Streaming is booming across the MENA region, where the OTT subscription video market, led by MBC's Shahid, generated revenues estimated at $1.2 billion in 2024, according to Omdia, which projects continued MENA market growth. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples
