The BBC and Prime Video have announced that the multi-award-winning hit drama The Night Manager will return for two new seasons that will begin filming later this year.
Produced by The Ink Factory (The Pigeon Tunnel, The Little Drummer Girl) in association with Character 7, Demarest Films, and 127 Wall, and in co-production with Spanish partner Nostromo Pictures, the show is inspired by the characters in John le Carré’s best-selling novel.
The new seasons of The Night Manager will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and, outside of the UK, globally on Prime Video, in a deal negotiated by FIFTH SEASON, which is handling global distribution of the series.
Tom Hiddleston (Loki, The Essex Serpent) will reprise his iconic role as Jonathan Pine. The second season will pick up with Pine eight years after the explosive finale of season one.
Series creator David Farr will once again write The Night Manager. BAFTA winner Georgi Banks-Davies (I Hate Suzie, Paper Girls) will direct all six episodes of series two. Stephen Garrett will return to lead the series’ production. Hugh Laurie (All the Light We Cannot See, VEEP) will be an executive producer on the upcoming series.
The first series of The Night Manager won multiple BAFTAs, Emmy Awards, and Golden Globes – including Best Actor for Tom Hiddleston. Commissioned by the BBC in the UK, it was watched by more than 10 million viewers, making it one of 2016’s most-watched TV shows.
“The first series of The Night Manager was one of the most creatively fulfilling projects I have ever worked on. The depth, range, and complexity of Jonathan Pine was, and remains, a thrilling prospect,” said Tom Hiddleston.
“I’m so looking forward to reuniting with Simon and Stephen Cornwell, David Farr and Stephen Garrett, and to working with Georgi Banks-Davies to tell the next chapter of our story. I can’t wait.”
David Farr added, “John le Carré’s work has long been an inspiration to me, and working closely with him on Season 1 was an honor and a pleasure. I did not tread lightly into extending The Night Manager beyond the original book, but an idea came to me a couple of years ago that felt truthful to that unique world of dark corners and shady identities.
“No one marries the suspense of espionage with a deep exploration of the human soul quite like le Carré. I hope that, in some way, we can pay homage to his uneasy genius in this new exploration. I am thrilled to be working again with Tom Hiddleston, Stephen Garrett, and The Ink Factory team and to be welcoming the brilliant director Georgi Banks-Davies into our ranks.”
Simon Cornwell and Stephen Cornwell, co-CEOs and Founders at The Ink Factory, commented: “The Night Manager’s original series was a landmark moment for the golden era of television—uniting on-screen and behind-the-camera talent at the top of their game—and an audience reception that was beyond our wildest imagining.
“We are thrilled to be reuniting with David, Stephen Garrett, and the inimitable Tom to continue the journey of The Night Manager with the BBC and Amazon. Revisiting the story of Pine also means going beyond the events of John le Carré’s original work: that is a decision we have not taken lightly, but his compelling characters and the vision David has for their next chapter were irresistible.”
Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer, said: “After years of fervent speculation, I’m incredibly excited to confirm that The Night Manager is returning to the BBC for two more series. The multi-award-winning show was lauded by audiences and critics and catapulted British drama onto the global stage in 2016.
“Glamorous and sophisticated, it had the nation hooked. Bold storytelling and a stellar lineup in front of and behind the camera made it unmissable viewing, and the scale and ambition behind the new season will take it to even greater heights.”
Vernon Sanders, Head of Television, Amazon MGM Studios, said: “We are elated to bring additional seasons of The Night Manager to our Prime Video customers. The combination of terrific source material, the wonderful team at The Ink Factory, a great writer in David Farr, an award-winning director in Georgi Banks-Davies, as well as the talented cast truly make the series the full package.
“We’re excited to be back in business with the BBC and look forward to continuing the show’s journey with The Night Manager team.”
The Night Manager series two is created and executive produced by David Farr, based on the characters created by John le Carré. The additional executive producers include Stephen Garrett for Character 7, Georgi Banks-Davies, Hugh Laurie, and Tom Hiddleston; Joe Tsai and Arthur Wang for 127 Wall; Stephen and Simon Cornwell, Michele Wolkoff, and Tessa Inkelaar for The Ink Factory; Adrián Guerra for Nostromo Pictures; William D. Johnson for Demarest Films, Nick Cornwell, Susanne Bier, Chris Rice for FIFTH SEASON and Gaynor Holmes for the BBC.
The Ink Factory produces the series in association with Character 7, Demarest Films, and 127 Wall and in co-production with Nostromo Pictures. Season one of The Night Manager is available to watch on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Prime Video globally.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to provide the latest news on streaming, movies, and TV shows. He previously created the websites ComingSoon, SuperHeroHype, and ShockTillYouDrop.