The third episode of The Night Manager series two delivered a shocking twist as Jonathan Pine discovered that the mysterious Gilberto Hanson was none other than Richard Roper himself. The revelation came just as Pine believed he had the upper hand in his investigation into the Cartagena shipment.
Hugh Laurie, who plays Roper, revealed that his character spent much of the intervening years as a prisoner of a shadowy cartel to whom he owed a large debt. Initially marked for death, Roper used his persuasive skills to bargain for his life and eventually regain his footing, forming a plan to pay off his debt and rebuild his empire.
Laurie described Roper as a 'conqueror' and a 'pirate' who will never stop dreaming of taking people, territory, and control. His ambition in this season is to clear his debts, settle his creditors, and build a new force in the world. Roper is utterly ruthless, prepared to do almost anything to achieve power and status, but he does not seek public glory; he enjoys the mystique of being off stage.
One of Roper's key objectives is to defeat Jonathan Pine, who bested him previously. Roper is not a man to forgive or forget easily, making Pine his principal target. Laurie also discussed Roper's relationship with his son Teddy, played by Diego Calva. Teddy is the result of a hidden liaison, and Roper has exploited this secret for his own purposes, acting as a protector from afar but using his son as a chilling strategy.
Laurie admitted to loving his character despite his gruesome nature, stating that an actor must love the character they play to bring them to life effectively. He finds Roper repulsive but secretly loves him, acknowledging the character's complexity.
