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Girl Taken, the thrilling Paramount+ psychological crime thriller, has just dropped its trailer, setting a tense, thrilling, and gritty tone ahead of the show's release on January 8, 2026.
With just a short phone call scene, the trailer prepares viewers for an emotionally charged and suspenseful journey that centers on the harrowing abduction of a teenage girl and the family's desperate struggle.
Paramount releases the first trailer for Girl Taken
The trailer brilliantly cuts between two sides of the story. On one side, the exposition shows the family of Lily, mainly her mother, who is agonized by her daughter's sudden disappearance. Time is slipping, and nothing can be trusted.
Viewers are also introduced to some of the core cast. Lily is introduced just like another teenage girl, who is living her school life. But then comes a moment when all of her life changes.
Mr. Rick Hansen features as Lily's school teacher. He appears to be helping in the search, but the brooding music hints otherwise. He is eventually revealed to be Lily's captor. One of the most chilling moments appears when he pulls off an eerie laughter, and moments later, he says to Lily:
"You're going to learn to be good."
The contrast in the scenes is sharp and deliberate, underlining how fragile hope can be when it has to hold strong against sustained abuse. The series is based on celebrated author Hollie Horton's novel titled Baby Doll.
Hollie Overton, an Australian crime novelist known for psychologically driven thrillers. Her work often explores trauma, captivity, and survival from a deeply personal perspective. Her work deals with emotional aftermaths of abuse rather than the overload of procedural detail. The screenplay is a brainchild of three minds: David Turpin, Suzanne Cowie, and Nessah Muthy.
The family of Lily is also impacted by the abduction from a quiet rural English town. The character of Rick Hansen appears all the more horrifying due to his disguise as a trusted local teacher.
The shock is induced by the duality of his character: Rick appears helpful and composed in public, even assisting with the search. In private, he is something else entirely, a cruel human about whom the trailer tells little.
Apart from Girl Taken's thrilling plot, it will also deliver a strong ensemble. Popular actor Alfie Allen plays Rick with an eerie restraint that immediately induces fear and dread. His performance in the trailer grounds his character as an antagonist.
On the other hand, Tallulah Evans appears as Lily, conveying the struggle of the teenager with a compelling performance. Jill Halfpenny plays Eve, Lily’s mother, and much of the trailer’s emotional weight rests on her visible refusal to give up. Even in the verbal phone call, her desperation to find Lily is clear.
The tense phone call goes:
"I need your help. I can't find my daughter."
"When did you see her last?"
"Uh, yesterday."
Delphi Evans stars as Abby, the sister left behind, whose grief and endurance quietly mirror Lily’s own fight to survive.
Produced by Clapperboard Studios for Paramount+ UK, Girl Taken was adapted for television by David Turpin, Suzanne Cowie, and Nessah Muthy. Direction is shared between Laura Way and Bindu de Stoppani. Together, the creative team appears focused on character-first storytelling, with suspense built through perspective rather than spectacle.
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