iHostage is a gripping thriller inspired by the shocking hostage situation at the Apple Store in Amsterdam in 2022. Directed by Bobby Boermans (The Golden Hour, Mocro Maffia) and written by Simon de Waal (Sleepers), the film follows a Bulgarian man who unexpectedly finds himself in a life-threatening situation when an armed assailant takes over the store. Told through the eyes of the perpetrator, the hostages, and the emergency services, iHostage unfolds an intense and emotional story about courage, survival, and the lasting impact of terror.

ReadySet Studios played a key role in the making of this first Dutch Netflix Original, which depended heavily on the seamless integration of a full-scale replica of the Amsterdam Apple Store and its surroundings, including the bustling Leidseplein city square. Early in production, it became clear that shooting the 15+ minutes of scenes set inside the store would require a highly controlled and flexible environment.

To achieve this, a digital twin of the existing location was created; not as a physical set, but as a virtual environment projected onto a massive LED wall (60m x 6m). This setup displayed Leidseplein as a fully interactive real-time game level, allowing the crew to make live adjustments to camera angles, lighting transitions (day to night), vehicle placement, and virtual crowds (complete with public transport and other iconic features of the Amsterdam cityscape) to maintain narrative continuity and authenticity.

Due to the scale of the production, ReadySet’s permanent studio in Amsterdam Duivendrecht was not sufficient on its own. A temporary LED volume was therefore designed and built in an airplane hangar, offering the space needed to accommodate the project’s scope.