The Night Manager made a huge impact when it landed on BBC One in 2016 – yes, nine years ago! – so it’s very exciting to share the news it’s coming back any day now with a series 2.
Like Happy Valley, Line of Duty, The White Lotus and Broadchurch, The Night Manager was THE television show everyone was talking about that year. But, no offence to the others, it had a touch of class.
That was largely down to the impeccable, A-list heavy cast, led by Marvel antihero Tom Hiddleston as former British intelligence operative, Jonathan Pine.
So what do we know about The Night Manager series 2? Here’s everything BBC and Prime Video have revealed so far, including plot, start date, cast, and location.
Is there a series 2 of The Night Manager?
Series 2 of The Night Manager is coming soon, nine years after the ridiculously successful series 1 of the BBC One drama. The BBC and Prime Video have now unveiled the first-look images for the much-anticipated new episodes. And it looks epic!
Series 1 aired in 2016, and its explosive finale was watched by more than 10 million viewers in the UK alone.
Now, the central cast return, with Loki legend Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as former British intelligence operative, Jonathan Pine.
The Night Manager series two is created and executive produced by David Farr, based on the characters created by John le Carré.
What’s the plot?
The upcoming series 2 of The Night Manager “expands the story beyond the source material of the titular novel for the first time”.
While series 1 stayed faithful to the John le Carré novel of the same name, which was published in 1993, series 2 moves the plot along.
We catch up with Jonathan Pine who is now living as Alex Goodwin in London. Alex is a low-level MI6 officer running a quiet surveillance unit in London… His life is now comfortingly uneventful and he believes he’s “buried his past”.
However, one night, a chance sighting of an old Roper mercenary prompts a call to action. It leads Pine to a violent encounter with a new player: Colombian businessman Teddy Dos Santos.
The synopsis tells us: “On this perilous new journey, Pine meets Roxana Bolaños, a businesswoman who reluctantly helps him infiltrate Teddy’s Colombian arms operation. Once in Colombia, Pine is plunged deep into a deadly plot involving arms and training of a guerrilla army.
“As allegiances splinter, Pine races to expose a conspiracy designed to destabilise a nation. And with betrayal at every turn, he must decide whose trust he needs to earn and how far he’s willing to go before it’s too late.”
Who is in the cast?
The Night Manager wouldn’t be the same without the cool Tom Hiddleston as cool as a cucumber Jonathan Pine. Of course, Marvel fans will know Tom as Thor’s little bro Loki, but he’s famous for his multiple leading roles in film, theatre, and TV. Other highlights include The Essex Serpent, Kong: Skull Island, and The Life of Chuck.
It was The Night Manager series 1 that really helped make the actor into the global star he is now.
Also set to return are National Treasure Olivia Colman as Angela Burr. She’s known for being in everything brilliant, including Fleabag, Peep Show, The Crown, Broadchurch, and The Bear. We could go on, but we’d get blisters on our fingers.
Sex Education’s Alistair Petrie reprises his role as Sandy Langbourne, opposite The Great’s Douglas Hodge as Rex Mayhew, Traces’ Michael Nardone as Frisky, and A Quiet Place’s Noah Jupe as Daniel Roper. Sadly, early reports suggest that Hugh Laurie will not be returning as Richard Roper.
Of course, in series 1, Richard Roper was the main antagonist. He was arrested by Egyptian police after his arms deal was sabotaged by Jonathan Pine. Pine had swapped his weapons for fake ones…. Other main characters like Elizabeth Debicki’s Jed and Tom Hollander’s Lance met grisly ends.
Series two will also incude several new cast members. These include:
Mexican Diego Calva – known for Narcos: Mexico – as Teddy.
Emmy Award nominee and star of Daisy Jones & The Six Camila Morrone as Roxana.
Coldwater‘s Indira Varma as Mayra.
This Country’s Paul Chahidi as Basil.
Adult Material’s Hayley Squires as Sally.
Where was The Night Manager filmed?
The new series of The Night Manager was filmed across various glamorous locations in the UK, Spain, Colombia and France.
The stunning locations were one part of the appeal of series 1. The acclaimed first series was nominated for more than 30 awards and won multiple BAFTAs, Emmy Awards, and Golden Globes – including Best Actor for Tom Hiddleston.
Commissioned by the BBC, in was one of 2016’s most-watched TV shows in the UK.
When is the start date? How many episodes?
The Night Manager series 2 will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and on Prime Video later this year.
Although the Beeb and Prime Video have not yet confirmed an exact date, we have a feeling it will be sooner rather than later.
It will be six episodes of one hour each, and series 1 is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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