The espionage drama 'Slow Horses', based on the novels by Mick Herron, has concluded its fifth season with an explosive finale, wrapping up the adaptation of London Rules. The episode left several storylines unresolved, including Diana Taverner finally achieving her long-coveted goal and River Cartwright hinting at a permanent departure from Slough House. Fans of the book series, which recently saw the release of a ninth novel, know that ample source material remains for future adaptations. The good news for viewers is that the show’s future is secure, as Season 6 was officially confirmed in October 2024, and a seventh season has also been announced, reports The WP Times.
The announcement of the sixth season renewal came with a statement from Jay Hunt, creative director for Apple TV+ in Europe, who expressed delight that Gary Oldman would continue to lead the "star-studded cast on another acerbic and action-packed adventure." A significant change, however, is the departure of Will Smith, who served as showrunner from the first season through season five. Smith explained his decision to step down, noting that Season 5 concludes certain story arcs that began in the first season, making it "a good moment to hand over the show." He cited the risk of running dry or repeating material, the daunting production schedule, and his desire to maintain the high quality of his work as reasons for his departure.
Cast Changes and Plot Details
With Smith's exit, Season 6 has been adapted by former co-executive producer Gaby Chiappe and is being directed by Adam Randall, who previously helmed Season 4. While the exact release date is yet to be confirmed, an educated guess based on recent patterns suggests a likely release in September 2026, as filming concluded long ago and previous seasons have often arrived in September.
The official synopsis for Season 6 reveals that it "sees the Slow Horses on the run as Diana Taverner embroils them all in a fatally high-stakes game of retaliation and revenge." This aligns with the Season 5 cliffhanger that saw Taverner take her position as First Desk. Actor Christopher Chung (Roddy Ho) commented that with Taverner finally having achieved everything she plotted for, it will be intriguing to see if "absolute power corrupts." The trailer for the new season confirms the return of Frank Harkness (Hugo Weaving) and shows a stolen file containing the names of the Slow Horses, leading to the team being hunted.
In a first for the show, Season 6 will adapt two of Mick Herron's novels—Joe Country and Slough House—suggesting the plots will be intricately merged and modified. The book synopses hint at internal turmoil within Slough House, with Catherine Standish struggling and River Cartwright's past coming into play, all culminating in a mission into "joe country" (enemy territory) where "they're not all coming home." The main cast, including Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, and Kristin Scott Thomas, are set to return. The trailer also revealed several new guest stars, including Lenny Rush, MyAnna Buring, Harry Lloyd, Kyle Soller, and Lucian Msamati. The return of Rosalind Eleazar (Louisa Guy), whose character left Slough House in Season 5 in a deviation from the books, remains uncertain as she was not featured in the trailer.
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