Why Tom Hiddleston’s ‘The Night Manager’ Scrapped a John le Carré Season 2 Plot

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After a nine-year break, The Night Manager is back for a second season, bringing Tom Hiddleston back as the resourceful spy. The first season, a popular and critically acclaimed adaptation of John le Carré’s novel, won several Golden Globes. Creating a new season proved tricky because le Carré never wrote a sequel. While the author had some ideas for a follow-up, his son, Simon Cornwell, confirmed that the new season won’t be based on any of his father’s existing plans or outlines.

According to Radio Times, the thrilling action series is coming back in just a few days, though it might feel a bit different than the first season. While the original story wasn’t written by John le Carré, star Hiddleston believes writer David Farr has perfectly captured the spirit of the show for Season 2. Hiddleston praised Farr, saying, “David has achieved the impossible. The Night Manager was based on a novel by le Carré, but there wasn’t a second book. David has written a sequel with all the nuance and complexity that le Carré himself would have appreciated.”

Bernard Cornwell, the show’s executive producer, revealed that his father had initial ideas for Season 2 before his death in 2020. However, those ideas weren’t used, and the producers chose to follow the vision of Simon Farr instead. John le Carré’s son believes Farr was the perfect choice to continue the series, as he was a huge admirer of his father’s work.

I remember hearing about some early ideas he had for season two, way back when season one was wrapping up. Honestly, those initial thoughts ended up going in a completely different direction – the show we actually made doesn’t really resemble them at all. But it did get the ball rolling, you know? It gave us the green light to start brainstorming and figuring out what a second season could even be.

David is a remarkable and gifted person. Though he might not say it himself, he’s a huge fan of my father’s work – he’s read every book and given them a lot of thought. He’s truly absorbed not just the style of le Carré, but also the complex characters, moral themes, and big life questions explored in the stories, all while being a captivating storyteller.

Tom Hiddleston Will Return as the Handsome Spy in Season 2 of ‘The Night Manager’

Season 2 of The Night Manager is coming next January, bringing back Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine. He’ll once again play the ex-MI6 operative trying to escape his shadowy past. This time, Pine goes undercover to take down a criminal group in Colombia that’s funding a rebel army. Hiddleston shared his thoughts on returning to the series:

It’s amazing to be here, seeing something new come to life. It feels familiar, like echoes of our past work – the same energy and spirit are definitely there. But honestly, it’s also totally different and feels completely original. It’s like we’ve taken everything we learned and built something brand new with it.

Okay, so this second season really digs deep. It’s got this incredible emotional weight and feels so real. We weren’t afraid to get vulnerable and show you the characters’ true selves – all their messy, complicated feelings and motivations. It’s about peeling back the layers and letting you connect with them on a much more personal level.

Season 2 of The Night Manager arrives on Prime Video on January 11th. However, viewers in the U.K. can watch it sooner, starting January 1st at 9 PM on iPlayer and BBC One. If you haven’t seen it yet, the first season of this spy thriller is currently available on Prime Video.

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2025-12-15 13:20