About 6 years ago, House Star Hugh Laurie attended a television conference in Israel, as part of a panel. In it, he expressed concern over the future of spy films and TV.
Hugh Laurie is worried that spy films and television may be a thing of the past. After all, the current state of world affairs may have more twists and turns than fiction can keep up with.
“I would say the frightening thing about the world today is that everything is precisely as it seems,” Laurie told the audience Tuesday at Keshet’s Innovative TV Conference in Jerusalem.
“It’s complete f#@king mayhem.”
Laurie, the veteran British actor, comedian and musician best known for his role on House, was in town to participate in a panel at the conference about his latest project, the British TV miniseries The Night Manager.
The six hour-long episodes of the show, based on the book by John le Carre, follow a British hotel manager turned spy tasked with infiltrating the inner circle of a dangerous international arms dealer.
Laurie discussed the show on a panel alongside its director, Susanne Bier, and its executive producer, Stephen Garrett.
But Laurie isn’t sure what the future of spy thrillers like The Night Manager may be in today’s conflict-filled times.
“My worry for the future of this genre,” he said, is that “essentially all spy stories and in fact all stories, depend upon sort of at least beginning from a position of stability.”
I find this ironic, given he is now set to star in a spy show – an Israeli one, no less!
Hugh Laurie is headed to Tehran as the espionage drama has been renewed for a third season by Apple TV+.
The Night Manager and House, M.D. star has joined the cast of the Israeli spy thriller.
He’ll play a South African nuclear inspector and will join an ensemble cast that includes newcomers Sasson Gabai, Bahar Pars and Phoenix Raei. Returning stars include Niv Sultan, who plays Mossad agent Tamar Rabinyan, along with Sahun Toub and Shila Ommi.
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“We are so excited to have the brilliant Hugh Laurie join Niv and the incredibly talented cast in a new storyline that has all the makings of an unforgettable season,” said Morgan Wandell, head of international programming for Apple TV+.
Here’s hoping Hugh learns even more Hebrew while around his castmates.
