HBO Max, MGM+ acquire SPT thriller American Hostage in multiple territories

Jon Hamm stars in anthology series American Hostage

A number of international buyers have taken the rights to American Hostage, a psychological thriller starring Jon Hamm, including HBO Max in France and Movistar Plus+ in Spain.

The anthology series, which was commissioned by MGM+ in the US and is produced and distributed internationally by Sony Pictures Television (SPT), has also been picked up by MGM+ in the UK, Germany, Spain (second window), Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Latin America.

Meanwhile, SPT has lined up sales to Telia Estonia, Telia Play (Lithuania), Tet+ (Latvia), Stan (Australia), Sky New Zealand and beIN across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye, while HBO Max also acquired the show in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.

The announcement of the sales comes ahead of the LA Screenings later this month, when SPT will reveal a peek of the show to international buyers as part of a wider drama showcase.

Co-created and executive produced by Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers, American Hostage (8×60’) is set in the 1970s and tells the true story of Fred Heckman, a beloved Indianapolis radio reporter who is thrust into the middle of a life-or-death crisis when hostage-taker Tony Kiritsis demands to be interviewed on his popular radio news programme. The first season is based on the scripted podcast of the same name.

It is produced by SPT and counts Ryan, Myers, Hamm, Connie Tavel, Marney Hochman, Sharon Hoffman, Shawn Christensen and Gabriel Mason among its executive producers.