Originally an espionage novel by John le Carré, and published in 1993, the story follows former British soldier turned hotel night auditor Jonathan Pine, who encounters documents which could incriminate arms dealer Richard Onslow Roper, who is played by Hugh Laurie in the series.
“The best way I can describe the story is the thriller equivalent of a bromance,” executive producer Stephen Garrett told Entertainment Weekly this week.
Speaking of bromance, it seems like one is indeed brewing between Hiddleston and Laurie. Hiddleston said that during the 75-day shoot for the six-part mini-series that took them to locations such as Morocco, Majorca, Switzerland and London, the two had bonded. “(Laurie) can’t address me by my real name. I sign off emails to him as ‘Pine,’ and he addresses me as ‘Pine.’ I don’t know why, but it makes us laugh.”
Earlier this month, Hiddleston spoke with the BBC about the upcoming mini-series and his portrayal of Pine: “Jonathan Pine is a thrilling prospect. Described by John le Carré as a ‘sometime army wolf child with a special unit’ in the British forces, ‘caterer, chef, itinerant hotelier, perpetual escapee from emotional entanglements, collector of other people’s languages, self-exiled creature of the night and sailor without a destination’, Jonathan Pine is the most mysterious and complex kind of British hero.”
Laurie admitted: “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.”
According to Variety, The Night Manager mini-series is a contemporary interpretation by writer David Farr and director Susanne Bier and stars Olivia Colman as intelligence operative Angela Burr, Elizabeth Debicki as Roper’s girlfriend, Jed, and the new Spiderman Tom Holland as Roper’s associate, Corcoran.
Bier told the BBC: “That Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston will be playing Roper and Pine, respectively, is so thrilling to me. Their shared soulfulness, precision and sharp humour will seduce us all, both through Roper’s charming yet insidious manipulations and Pine’s unsettlingly enigmatic struggle to do the right thing.”
Palma Pictures facilitated the production here in Majorca and a number of locations were used, including Palma itself. The series will give the island priceless publicity.
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Ah but will he collect the tourist tax when you check in ha ha
Corcoran will be played by Tom HOLLANDER (not of Spiderman fame at all). Not Tom Holland. completely different guys, completely different age groups