Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston are to star in the BBC/AMC/The Ink Factory adaptation of John le Carré’s The Night Manager.
First announced last October, the six-part adaptation will be BBC One’s first le Carré series in almost 30 years and is being written by David Farr and directed by Oscar winner Susanne Bier.
The eagerly anticipated drama follows former British soldier Jonathan Pine (Hiddleston) as he navigates the shadowy recesses of Whitehall and Washington where an unholy alliance operates between the intelligence community and the secret arms trade.
To infiltrate the inner circle of lethal arms dealer Richard Onslow Roper (Laurie), Pine must himself become a criminal.
Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, says: “It’s a fantastic coup to bring le Carré back to our screens after more than 20 years.
“He is quite simply one of the greatest novelists of our time and I am sure that with AMC, Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie on board combined with talented director Susanne Bier, this will be one of the BBC’s most unique, ambitious and unmissable dramas.”
Laurie said: “I loved The Night Manager when it was published, and for more than 20 years have yearned to see it realized on screen. I am now thrilled and honoured to have the frontest of front row seats. All the moving parts are finely machined – we just have to not mess it up.”
Tom Hiddleston added: “It’s an honour and a privilege to work with such truly impeccable collaborators as Hugh Laurie and Susanne Bier in bringing this to the screen.
“David Farr’s screenplay, adapted from le Carré’s brilliant novel, is absolutely outstanding. I’m beyond thrilled and I can’t wait.”
The Night Manager will be broadcast on BBC One in 2016.