The highly anticipated second series of The Night Manager made a triumphant return to BBC One on New Year's Day, nearly a decade after the first season captivated audiences. The espionage thriller, based on John le Carré's characters, sees the return of fan favourites including Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine, Olivia Colman as Angela Burr, and Douglas Hodge as Rex Mayhew.
A New Adversary Emerges
While familiar faces are back, the new series introduces several fresh characters to the high-stakes world of international intrigue. Among them is Teddy Dos Santos, a complex arms dealer who becomes the latest target for MI6 asset Jonathan Pine. Pine is drawn to Teddy after spotting a potential connection to his old nemesis, the notorious Richard Roper, originally played by Hugh Laurie.
The actor tasked with bringing this nuanced antagonist to life is Diego Calva. The 33-year-old Mexican star steps into the role, portraying a man grappling with a fractured identity. Director and executive producer Georgi Banks-Davies praised Calva's approach, stating he explores the character's internal conflict from an emotional core, delivering a performance that is both vulnerable and deeply compelling.
Who Is Actor Diego Calva?
While Diego Calva may be a new name to some UK viewers, he has been building an impressive career on both sides of the Atlantic. He first gained recognition in independent cinema before appearing in the Netflix crime drama Narcos: Mexico as a drug lord.
His big international break came with a starring role in Damien Chazelle's film Babylon, where he acted alongside Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie as Manny Torres. This performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. More recently, he has featured in the film On Swift Horses with Jacob Elordi and the Netflix drama The Secret of the River.
Joining The Night Manager Family
Speaking about joining the established cast of the hit BBC series, Diego Calva expressed feeling "lucky and proud" to work alongside talents like Tom Hiddleston and Camila Morrone, who plays Roxana. He described the cast as having welcomed him like family, a significant gesture given the close bonds formed since the first season aired nine years ago.
Calva was particularly effusive about his leading man, calling Hiddleston "one of the most disciplined, energetic, and charismatic actors I have ever worked with." He also highlighted the collaborative and explorative environment fostered by director Georgi Banks-Davies, which allowed him the freedom to develop Teddy Dos Santos fully.
Teasing the series' direction, Calva hinted that this season delves deeper than mere suspense, exploring themes of betrayal, family, faith, and hope. He suggested that audiences will find elements of Teddy's journey surprisingly relatable, adding further layers to the classic espionage narrative.
The Night Manager continues on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday, January 18. The new series was filmed across multiple international locations, adding to its cinematic scale and gripping atmosphere.
