Jon Hamm's 'American Hostage' Premieres on MGM+
Jon Hamm stars as a 1970s radio reporter in 'American Hostage,' now streaming on MGM+ with weekly episodes.
American Hostage, a new crime thriller series starring Jon Hamm, premiered on MGM+ on September 20, 2026. The first episode is also available on Prime Video at no extra cost to subscribers.
Hamm plays Fred Heckman, a 1970s radio reporter drawn into a real-life hostage crisis. The series is based on the podcast of the same name, which also starred Hamm and dramatized the 1977 standoff involving Tony Kiritsis and mortgage broker Richard Hall.
Giovanni Ribisi portrays Kiritsis, with Kristoffer Polaha as Richard Hall. Shawn Ryan and Eileen Myers adapted the podcast for television.
The eight-episode season rolls out weekly on Sundays. Early reviews are strong: the show holds a 90% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 10 reviews, according to Slashfilm.
Quick answers
When did American Hostage premiere?
The series premiered on MGM+ on September 20, 2026.
How many episodes are in American Hostage?
The first season consists of eight episodes, released weekly on Sundays.
Who stars in American Hostage?
Jon Hamm leads as Fred Heckman, with Giovanni Ribisi as Tony Kiritsis and Kristoffer Polaha as Richard Hall.