The Night Manager Season 2 Updates: Is It Happening?

It’s been over three years since the first season of BBC spy drama The Night Manager aired – is season 2 about to happen anytime soon? Based on the book by MI6 intelligence officer turned novelist John le Carré, The Night Manager was adapted for the small screen by Hanna creator David Farr and directed by Bird Box helmer Susanne Bier.

The series brought together some of Britain’s finest acting talents with Tom Hiddleston playing Jonathan Pine, a luxury hotel night manager and former soldier who is roped into infiltrating arms dealer Richard Roper’s (Hugh Laurie) inner circle by intelligence officer Angela Burr (Olivia Colman).

The first season of The Night Manager received widespread critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic and the series went on to win three Golden Globes, two Emmys and three BAFTAs. Although the first season covered pretty much all of John le Carré’s novel, the success of The Night Manager left viewers wanting more. There’s certainly enough enthusiasm for a second outing among the show’s cast and crew, but will The Night Manager season 2 ever materialize?

The Night Manager Season 2 Is Being Written

Although the BBC and the show’s U.S. network AMC have yet to officially give The Night Manager season 2 the green light, the broadcasters stated in 2017 that a second season was in early stages of development.

In 2018 it emerged a crack team of writers made up of Operation Finale screenwriter Matthew Orton, British spy novelist Charles Cumming, Humans writer Namsi Khan, and Killing Eve executive producer Francesca Gardiner had assembled to start working on possible plots for The Night Manager season 2.

The Plot Of The Night Manager Season 2

The fact a second season of The Night Manager is even being considered is quite a significant thing. John le Carré’s original work was a standalone novel and according to season 2 writer Charles Cumming, the author has never allowed adaptations of his stories to have a sequel not based on one of his books. That said, le Carré has given the project his official blessing but unfortunately the season 2 writing team have been sworn to secrecy on its plot.

While plot details remain under wraps, the new writing team have confirmed crafting a second season that’s both faithful to the world created by le Carré’s and matches – or even surpasses – the first season in quality is paramount. Whether The Night Manager season 2 will be a wholly original or borrow elements from other le Carré novels remains to be seen but the writers’ commitment to quality bodes well for the series.

Who Could Return For The Night Manager Season 2?

As the spy drama’s all-new writing team might suggest, original The Night Manager screenwriter David Farr won’t be returning as his action-drama series Hanna is currently occupying his time. It’s the same for original director Susanne Bier who has decided to let another talent take the reins over fears she wouldn’t do her “very best work the second time round,” according to an interview with Radio Times.

As for which cast members could return for the show’s second season, many season 1 stars including Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Elizabeth Debicki have expressed interest. Writer Charles Cumming has stated some characters would return while others would not, so it looks likely that at least a few original cast members will feature in The Night Manager season 2 when it finally happens – their busy schedules depending.