Manifeststar Melissa Roxburgh’s upcoming NBC crime dramaThe Hunting Partyhas gotten its premiere bumped up, with a release date that’s approaching very quickly. Roxburgh is best known for her role as Mick Stone on thecast ofManifest, a passenger on Flight 828 that disappears then reappears five and a half years later. Since then, she’s also appeared as Lieutenant Ellen Grier in a guest appearance on NBC’sQuantum Leap, while also showing up as Dr. Dory Shaw in CBS’Tracker.The Hunting Partywill be her first main role after her previous NBC series.
Now,TVLinehas confirmed the premiere date forThe Hunting Partyhas been moved up, withthe Roxburgh-led series now set to premiere its first episode on Sunday, January 19 at 7 p.m. ET. This will be followed by an encore presentation on Monday, February 3 at 10 p.m. ET, the show’s actual time slot. The rest of the series will arrive with new episodes weekly on Monday nights, the premiere acting as an early preview of the series.
The Hunting Partywas created by JJ Bailey, who is also a writer on the upcoming resort dramaGetaway.
What The Hunting Party’s New Premiere Date Says About The Show
Previews Of New Network Shows Are Becoming Commonplace
NBC appears to be following in other network series' footsteps by showcasingThe Hunting Party’s premiere episode early.
The Hunting Partyfollows Roxburgh’s Bex Henderson,an ex-FBI Special Agent searching for criminal inmates who escaped a secretive government prison following an explosion. The show will follow her leading a team of investigators hunting down said criminals. Major characters include CIA agent Ryan Hassani (Patrick Sabongui), Army Intelligence officer Jennifer Morales (Sara Garcia), prison guard Shane Florence (Josh McKenzie), and Bex’s former partner and flame Oliver Odell (Nick Wechsler). Even though theending ofManifestplayed out on Netflix after NBC cancelled the show, the star’s new series might be the start of something bigger.
Manifest’s Biggest Questions Answered & Mysteries Explained
The passengers of Flight 828 have long attempted to understand the Callings, and they have solved some of the show’s biggest mysteries in season 4.
NBC appears to be following in other network series' footsteps by showcasingThe Hunting Party’s premiere episode early. A similar strategy was employed by CBS for theirreboot ofMatlock, offering episode 1 on June 21, 2025, before beginning the series proper with episode 2 on October 17.Premiering a series so much earlier than the rest of the show means courting early engagement from audiences, something that may have helped the CBS series earn its early season 2 renewal.
Our Take On The Hunting Party’s Early Series Premiere
It Might Help The Show Reach A Larger Audience
WithThe Hunting Partypremiering earlier than when the series begins airing weekly, NBC are likely trying to draw in an audience that can stick with the story long-term. The decision to air it on a Sunday night also means more eyes might be on it, giving potential viewers the option to keep watching by tuning in during its regular Monday night time slot. With the premiere now moved up so quickly, it won’t be long until it’s revealed how well Roxburgh’s new show shapes up compared to her previous one.
27-06-2025
09-06-2025
The Hunting Party
Cast
The Hunting Party is a crime procedural series released in 2025, centering on a specialized team of investigators tasked with apprehending notorious killers who have escaped from a secretive and non-existent prison facility.
