The Long Road Back to The Night manager and beyond: An Exclusive with Alexander Petrie
Alexander Petrie is a veteran actor currently captivating audiences with his performance in Hamlet at the National Theater. However, his career is experiencing a significant resurgence thanks to the eagerly awaited return of The Night Manager to Amazon Prime Video. The journey to a second season, it turns out, was anything but straightforward.
Initially conceived as a limited series, the prospect of continuing the story lingered for years. Petrie recalls receiving periodic updates, ofen followed by disappointment. “I would get a call about once a year suggesting we were back on,” he explains. “Then, a year later, I’d learn it was happening, but without my involvement. I was perfectly fine with that, understanding the complexities of production.”
He leaned on his friend and executive producer, Laurie, for perspective. Laurie’s pragmatic outlook – “If you’re on set and the camera’s on you while I’m behind it, then we’re doing it” – offered a reassuring, if uncertain, path forward.
Ultimately,the key was finding the right story. Developing a narrative worthy of John le Carré’s legacy, yet autonomous of his existing works, proved challenging. The breakthrough came with writer David Farr, who presented a compelling vision. “he sat down and said, ‘This is what I would do,’ and it resonated,” Petrie shares. “There was a collective feeling that this was a story worth telling.”
The Night Manager is poised to return to screens soon, and plans are already underway for a third season. Petrie describes Farr’s script for the upcoming installment as a “Shakespearean tragedy,” hinting at a grand scale. “It’s going to be enormous, based on what I’ve read,” he teases. ”We’re scheduled to film the third season next year, and I sincerely hope it happens, as the people involved are truly remarkable.”
This return to a complex, character-driven thriller comes at a particularly fulfilling time in Petrie’s life.He reflects on the enduring influence of William Shakespeare on his career,noting the bard’s mastery of worldwide human themes. “He wrote about power, love, madness, revenge, mortality, jealousy, and the fear of God – and he did it remarkably well,” Petrie observes.
Furthermore, Petrie has achieved a better work-life balance as his children have grown. He expresses immense pride in raising three “well-adjusted, decent human beings” alongside his wife. “We’ve managed to navigate the challenges of this industry as a team,” he beams. “The emotion of doing all this is running beautifully high at the moment.”
Currently, you can experience Petrie’s powerful performance in Hamlet at the National Theatre‘s Lyttelton Theatre. Performances continue until November 22, 2025. This role, alongside the anticipated return of The Night manager, marks a vibrant and exciting chapter in a distinguished career.
