Tom Hiddleston reveals details about return of smash hit series The Night Manager and teases Hugh Laurie reprising the role of show’s villain

Tom Hiddleston has revealed details about the long-awaited return of BBC’s The Night Manager, with Hugh Laurie potentially reprising his role as arms dealer and villain Dickie Roper.

This week it was confirmed that the multi-award winning BBC spy thriller would return for two more series, following the explosive season one finale in 2016.

Now Tom, 43, has said the struggle to ‘get the story right’ was the reason it took so long for him to return to screen.

He said during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday: “We worked very closely with John Le Carré, the great writer who wrote the original novel and many others who unfortunately passed away a few years ago, but he had enormous input into the story. ‘.

Tom explained how after series one was based on the original book, a whole new story for his character Jonathan Pine had to be created from scratch.

This week it was confirmed that the multi-award winning BBC spy thriller would return for two more series, following the explosive season one finale in 2016 (LR Tom and co-star Hugh in The Night Manager)

Tom said the struggle to “get the story right” was the reason it took so long to return to the screen. (L-R) Tom Hollander, Olivia Colman, Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Debicki, Hugh Laurie

The Loki star was then pressed by the presenter as co-star Hugh, 64, who produced the new series, would make an on-screen appearance again after his character was kidnapped by enemies at the end of series one.

Despite saying he “didn’t know,” Jimmy joked, “This certainly seems like a lie, and I’ll tell you why, because you just said you found out the story.”

Before adding: ‘How can you figure out the story without knowing if Hugh Laurie is in the story?’

Bewildered, Tom said with a smile, “That’s good math.”

TThe first series of The Night Manager won multiple BAFTAs, Emmy Awards, and Golden Globes and was watched by more than 10 million viewers, making it one of the most watched TV shows of 2016.

Tom even won Best Actor at the Golden Globes for the role. He said in a statement after the announcement: ‘The first series of The Night Manager was one of the most creative projects I’ve ever worked on.

“The depth, breadth and complexity of Jonathan Pine was and remains an exciting prospect.

“I’m so looking forward to being reunited with Simon and Stephen Cornwell, David Farr and Stephen Garrett, and working with Georgi Banks-Davies to tell the next chapter of our story. I can not wait.’

He said during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday: “We worked very closely with John Le Carré, the great writer who wrote the original novel and many others who unfortunately passed away a few years ago, but he had enormous input into the story. ‘

Tom explained how after series one was based on the original book, a whole new story for his character Jonathan Pine had to be created from scratch

The new seasons will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and globally on Prime Video, in a deal negotiated by FIFTH SEASON, which is handling the series’ global distribution.

Creator of the series David Farr said: ‘John le Carré’s work has long been an inspiration to me and working closely with him on Season 1 was an honor and a pleasure.’

On how he was hesitant to expand the story beyond the book, he explained, “A few years ago, an idea came to me that felt true to that unique world of dark corners and dark identities.

‘No one combines the thrill of espionage with a profound exploration of the human soul like le Carré. I hope we can somehow pay tribute to his awkward genius in this new exploration.”

Speaking to Tom again, he added: ‘I’m thrilled to be working with Tom Hiddleston, Stephen Garrett and the team at The Ink Factory again, and to welcome the brilliant director Georgi Banks-Davies to our ranks .’

Meanwhile, BAFTA winner Georgi Banks-Davies will direct the series, after the show’s former director Susanne Bier previously ruled herself out.

The Loki star was then pressed by the presenter as co-star Hugh, 64, who produced the new series, would make an on-screen appearance again after his character was kidnapped by enemies at the end of series one.

Despite saying he ‘didn’t know’, host Jimmy joked: ‘This certainly seems like a lie, and I’ll tell you why, because you just said you found out the story.’

Inspired by the characters from John le Carré’s best-selling novel, the first series won multiple BAFTAs, Emmy Awards and Golden Globes and was watched by more than 10 million viewers, making it one of the most watched TV shows of 2016.

Tom cut a very dashing figure in a navy suit as she arrived at the studio

She told Radio Times in 2019: ‘I’m not doing Night Manager 2. I wasn’t sure I could give my best the second time around – so I decided I probably shouldn’t do it and let someone else play. [else direct it].

“I think part of it is that as a director you have to have an insanely big challenge,” she continued. “I don’t necessarily think that if a challenge becomes ‘Do something different than what you did last time’ – I don’t think that’s an organic challenge.

“I was just worried that I would repeat myself or do something that wasn’t that great, but I think someone else is going to do a great job with it,” she concluded.

Fans were thrilled by the news as they wrote their joy on Twitter: “What a great adaptation! It’s one of my favorites from his novels and I was always surprised that people didn’t talk about it more (until TV).”

‘Astonishing!!!’; ‘This is so exciting!’; ‘Excellent’; ‘Long ago. First series was brilliant.’; ‘Brilliant news. Thank you!’; ‘Alleluia’; ‘YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS’.

The BBC show first aired in 2016 to critical acclaim, winning two Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Actor for Tom.