Hulu Picks Up New Hostage-Recovery Drama Series “The Envoy”
Disney’s Hulu has picked up a brand new hostage-recovery drama series called “The Envoy”, which is being created by Alexi Hawley, who previously created “The Rookie”.
This new series has been inspired by journalist and producer Adam Ciralsky’s June 2024 Vanity Fair story about Roger Carstens and his team at the State Department, who have brought home 70 American hostages during the past four years.
“The Envoy” will follow one fictionalized hostage scenario per season. The article it is inspired by provides an in-depth look at the U.S. government’s commitment to freeing hostages, as Ciralsky details a year spent with Carstens, the point man for freeing U.S. detainees held by world figures like Vladimir Putin and Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. Ciralsky witnessed negotiations, interviewed dozens of officials and was present for successful and unsuccessful hostage recovery missions.
The new series is being created by ABC Signature Studios and Lionsgate TV, where Alexi has an overall deal. Lionsgate TV acquired the rights earlier this year and has held an auction, with both Netflix and Hulu bidding to get the show.
According to Deadline, interest in the project was increased due to recent real-world events involving a 24-multi-person swap across multiple countries involving the Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich, in which Carstens played a key role in organising.
The show will will be executive produced by Alexi Hawley through his Perfectman Pictures banner, along with Ciralsky and Gene Klein (The Recruit, Suits, Suits: LA) executive produce under their P3 Media banner.
No release date for this series has yet been announced, but it will be released on Hulu and Hulu On Disney+ in the United States, though it hasn’t been confirmed for an international Disney+ release as a Star Original.
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