Is Hugh Laurie in The Night Manager series 2? Actor confirms role after 'tricky' experience
Hugh Laurie's Richard Roper casts a shadow over The Night Manager series 2
The Night Manager series 2 sees the return of Tom Hiddleston’s secret agent, but does Hugh Laurie return? There’s a surprising answer.
Episode 1 of the second series picked up nine years after Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine helped to bring down arms dealer Richard Roper, portrayed by Laurie in the first season.
When we last saw Laurie’s villain, he was loaded onto a police van. However, rather than being prosecuted, his disgruntled buyers took control of the vehicle and drove away, leaving him screaming and panicking about his inevitable fate.
In that case, you probably wouldn’t expect Laurie to be a big part of The Night Manager series 2 cast. However, you’d be wrong.
***Warning: spoilers from The Night Manager series 2 episode 3 ahead***
Is Hugh Laurie in The Night Manager series 2?
Yes! Hugh Laurie makes a shock return as Richard Roper – sorry, Gilberto Hanson – in episode 3 of The Night Manager series 2.
If, like us, you’re still gobsmacked by that twist, let’s remember what we thought we knew. If you want to catch up fully with Roper’s fate and everything that went down before series 2, read our recap of The Night Manager series 1.
Episode 1 opened with Jonathan and Olivia Colman’s Angela Burr identifying Roper’s body. We got a glimpse of his bearded corpse, but that’s it. It certainly looked like Roper was dead, and the story of him being executed by his captors made sense.
From there, Laurie’s character cast a shadow over the series, especially given the introduction of Diego Calva’s Teddy Dos Santos, Roper’s “true disciple”.
It was then revealed that Teddy is Richard’s secret love child from his gun-running days in the ’90s in Colombia.
Who is Gilberto Hanson?
This is where Gilberto Hanson comes in. As described by the BBC, he’s a “terrifying local arms dealer whose reach extends to the heart of London’s intelligence community”.
However, something was off about him. Firstly, he was only ever mentioned by name, and never seen. Secondly, he seemingly died four years ago in a helicopter crash – and who else died four years ago? Richard Roper!
At the end of episode 3, Jonathan follows Teddy out of the city to one of his secret “business” meetings. As he peers from a nearby bush, we see Teddy sitting down with a general and a political figure.
Hanson stands out of frame, but it’s only when we hear his voice – Laurie’s unmistakable, menacing cadence – that we realise it’s been Roper all along.
The Night Manager writer explains ‘tricky’ experience with Hugh Laurie
According to David Farr, a screenwriter on the show, Laurie was “very tricky” to work with.
Speaking at London’s Blackheath Concert Halls (via the MailOnline), Farr recalled: “It was actually very tricky with Hugh because he’d tried to option the book when he was much younger because he’d loved it and he really wanted to play Pine.
“Then I was suddenly doing the television show and had written the first episode, and everyone liked it and Tom Hiddleston had signed up.”
Laurie – who is executive producer on the series – is said to have had “fixed ideas” about Pine, and “none of his notes were about his character,” Farr explained.
“They were all about Tom’s character – and I was like, ‘Give me a break.'”
Farr said he still has a good relationship with Laurie. “I think if I’d been more mature, I could have dealt with it better. Hugh is a lovely man, very passionate. He’s not in the sequel that much, except in flashback,” he added.
Hugh Laurie explains role in series 2
Laurie has stayed on as an executive producer in series 2. Speaking to the BBC, he said it was mainly his “love for the original novel” that made him want to carry on with the series.
“For season 2, I act as an executive producer, the senior prefect,” he explained.
“I feel a sort of proprietorial responsibility to the original novel and to its future development. I can’t help it, it’s just very close to my heart, as are the people involved.
“But it’s mainly my love for the original novel that has kept me involved as an executive producer, which they were kind enough to grant me.”
Laurie also praised Farr’s “development” of John le Carré’s source material and director Georgi Banks-Davies.
“People will respond to her vision of these characters and her way of telling the story. The choices she makes will capture an audience and encourage them to join the ride,” he said.
