THE NIGHT MANAGER: Past, Present And Future

Introduction

The first season of The Night Manager premiered in 2016 and quickly established itself as a major television success for both the BBC and AMC. The six-episode series was adapted by David Farr from John le Carré’s 1993 novel of the same name and directed by Susanne Bier. While le Carré’s original novel was set during the Cold War era, the television adaptation updated the story to reflect contemporary geopolitical concerns. Its themes are now focused on the modern global arms trade.

Season one starred Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine, a former British Army officer working as a hotel night manager. Pine is recruited by British intelligence to infiltrate the organization of international arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). Olivia Colman appeared as Angela Burr, the intelligence officer overseeing the covert operation. The supporting cast included Elizabeth Debicki, Tom Hollander, Alistair Petrie, and David Harewood. Filming took place across multiple international locations, including Spain, Morocco, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Upon its broadcast in the UK and the United States, The Night Manager attracted strong viewership and received widespread industry recognition. The series won three Golden Globe Awards in 2017, including Best Television Limited Series, Best Actor for Hiddleston, and Best Supporting Actor for Laurie. It also earned several Primetime Emmy Awards. Its performance made it one of the most successful British television dramas of the year.

The first season fully adapted Le Carré’s novel and was initially conceived as a limited series. However, its sustained popularity led to the commissioning of two additional seasons. As a result, there was an approximately ten-year gap between the first and second seasons. This was an unusually long interval for a high-profile television production.

Season Two

Unlike the first season, the second season of The Night Manager was not based on any existing novel by Le Carré. Although the author had discussed potential ideas before he died in 2020, the creative team developed an original storyline to continue Jonathan Pine’s story. With Hiddleston ten years older and essentially aged out of being cast as the next James Bond, the timing was perfect to bring Jonathan Pine and this fantastic series back to life.

The new season introduces several new antagonists. This includes Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva), a Colombian arms dealer who claims to be Roper’s true successor, and Roxana Bolanos (Camilla Morrone), a Colombian ‘businesswoman’ whose shifting allegiances make her difficult to pin down. Jonathan Pine continues to operate as a skilled manipulator, using charm and psychological insight to gain the upper hand over those around him.

Although David Farr’s script lacks the complexity of le Carré’s work, the six-episode sequel closely follows the author’s narrative framework. The story is densely plotted. It incorporates private investigators, mercenary forces, international locations (Medellín and Cartagena), intersecting loyalties, and multiple reversals. The season is further anchored by strong performances from Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, and Hayley Squires as Pine’s Colombian-based ally. Diego Calva especially stands out. His character is both menacing and sympathetic.

What’s Next?

The BBC and Prime Video both confirmed that The Night Manager would return for a third and final season. Hiddleston, who executive produces the series, has discussed the upcoming third season in multiple interviews. He told TV Insider:

“We’re working on it. Yeah, we’re working on it now…It’s not in official pre-production, but it’s in official development…We’re working on it, we’re refining the story and the architecture of what we really like.”

While there is no official synopsis yet for season three of The Night Manager, Hiddleston has said in multiple interviews that seasons two and three are part of the same arc. We can expect season three to pick up where season two left off. While the full season three cast has not been announced yet, Hiddleston is expected to return. Other actors who could reprise their roles include Noah Jupe, Alistair Petrie, Douglas Hodge, and, of course, Hugh Laurie. 

The Night Manager season three has no official release date as of this writing. However, the creative team behind the show promises that you won’t have to wait another decade to see Jonathan Pine back in action again. Director Georgi Banks-Davies told Esquire:

“We’re not going to wait ten years. We intend to make it in a way that we make it really good. I think people can rush things to get the next one out quickly. But I think we’ve perhaps shown everyone that you don’t have to do that. But no, we won’t be waiting as long as that.”

The Night Manager is available to stream on Prime Video.

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