5 things you need to know about The Night Manager

Cape Town – We bring you the need to know about AMC's new eight-part spy drama, The Night Manager.

1. What it's about

It is a contemporary interpretation of John le Carré’s espionage novel, The Night Manager. It follows former British soldier Jonathan Pine who is recruited by an intelligence community to infiltrate the inner circle of international businessman Richard Onslow Roper and detonate the unholy alliance he has ministered between the intelligence community and the secret arms trade. In his quest to do the right thing, Pine must first become a criminal himself. 

2. Meet the cast

Tom Hiddleston is former British soldier Jonathan Pine. He is an ex-soldier, who fought in Iraq, and now lives in retreat from life, and himself, as a hotel night porter. A self-exiled creature of the night and perpetual escapee from emotional entanglement, Pine’s conscience is pricked when his act of disclosing documents confidentially entrusted to him by a hotel guest results in her death.

Hugh Laurie is Richard Onslow Roper. He is well born, well educated, has grace and has charm. But behind the public mask – billionaire businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, gentleman – lurks a Mephistopheles. The worst man in the world has built an empire from his trade in human life; selling arms to the highest bidder and purchasing whatever souls he can along the way.

Olivia Coleman is Angela Burr. From a shabby office in London’s Victoria Street, Burr runs her modest enforcement agency – at the heart of which is a private crusade to bring down Richard Roper, to Burr the embodiment of all arms selling evil.

Elizabeth Debicki is Jed Marshall. She is on the run from life, and at the moment her safe harbour is the court of Richard Roper. His affection is a powerful anaesthetic but when Pine enters their world, the effects of it begin to dissolve and waking up to the gargoyles around her, she knows she can’t hide for much longer.

Tom Hollander is Major Corkoran. He is Roper’s fixer, his right hand and is fiercely loyal to his Captain and to Jed.

3. The creative team

Academy Award winner Susanne Bier directed the series and served as executive producer along with writer and producer David Farr. 

4. When and where

The series debuts on Monday, 22 February at 20:00 on DStv (140).

5. Watch the trailer here

(Photos: AMC)