The screenwriter behind the BBC's critically acclaimed thriller The Night Manager has revealed that working with Hugh Laurie on the first series was "really tricky" because the actor had his heart set on playing the lead role that ultimately went to Tom Hiddleston.
Behind the Scenes Casting Conflict
David Farr, the creator of the series, made the revelation during an event at London's Blackheath Concert Halls. He explained that Laurie, famed for his role in House, had previously tried to option John le Carré's 1993 novel and had always envisioned himself as the protagonist, Jonathan Pine – the soldier-turned-spy.
However, by the time Farr got the project off the ground, Hiddleston was already signed for the leading part. Laurie was cast instead as the suave and sinister arms dealer, Richard Roper. Farr recounted that Laurie then became difficult during the production of the first series, which debuted in 2016.
"I was suddenly doing the television show and had written the first episode, and everyone liked it and Tom Hiddleston had signed up [as Pine]," Farr stated. "But then Hugh became really tricky, because he had such fixed ideas and none of his notes were about his character [Roper] – they were all about Tom’s character."
Golden Globe Success and Forging Peace
Despite the initial friction, the six-part first season proved to be a major success. It won multiple Golden Globes, with Tom Hiddleston securing Best Actor and Hugh Laurie winning Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Roper. Olivia Colman also won Best Actress for her role as MI6 officer Angela Burr.
Farr reflected that relations are now amicable, admitting he could have handled the situation better. "We’re fine now. I think if I’d been more mature, I could have dealt with it better," he said. "Hugh is a lovely man, very passionate." He also confirmed that Laurie will only appear briefly in flashbacks in the upcoming second season.
What's Next for The Night Manager?
The highly anticipated second season, set to arrive in the New Year, ventures into uncharted territory as le Carré, who died in 2020, never wrote a sequel. Farr conceived the idea for the new storyline in a dream the night before the author's passing, an idea blessed by le Carré's sons.
Tom Hiddleston will return as Jonathan Pine, alongside Olivia Colman and Alistair Petrie as Sandy Langbourne. New cast members include Camilla Morrone and Diego Calva, playing characters Roxana Bolaños and Teddy Dos Santos. Indira Varma, Paul Chahidi, and Hayley Squires are also set to star.
Alistair Petrie, speaking recently, expressed his belief that le Carré would be "very proud of the new one," acknowledging the challenge of creating a sequel without source material. Fans will soon see if the magic of the first season, born from behind-the-scenes tension and stellar performances, can be captivatingly renewed.
