For nearly two decades, Hugh Laurie dreamed of bringing to the screen the enthralling lead character Jonathan Pine, created by John le Carré. Enamored with the moral ambiguity of the literary creation since 1993, the ‘House‘ actor spent many years struggling through “development hell.” He kept dreaming of landing a chance to prove his full acting prowess in what he thought could be the role of a lifetime.
However, by the time production finally began, circumstances forced Laurie to abandon the dream role he had pursued for over two decades. The unfortunate fate, typical of Hollywood, resembles a tragic turn of events in which actors often miss out on the roles they desire.
Hugh Laurie Chased Jonathan Pine For Over Two Decades
Hugh Laurie’s interest in ‘The Night Manager’ series goes back to 1993, when John le Carré published his bestselling thriller novel of the same name. After reading it, Laurie instantly fell in love with the complex character of Jonathan Pine, a former soldier and luxury hotel manager.
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The character had many admirable traits that appealed to the actor. Additionally, Laurie was famous only as a comedic actor in the United Kingdom at the time, and portraying Pine would have given him a chance to show his chops as a serious actor.
Despite his enthusiasm for the role, Laurie sadly had no immediate opportunity to play Jonathan Pine, as no adaptation of the novel was in development. For years, renowned director Sydney Pollack tried to make ‘The Night Manager’ happen, but to no avail.
As a result, Laurie’s lifelong ambition remained unfulfilled while the actor steadily gained popularity in both films and television. All these years of fruitless waiting left him with no choice but to let go of his dream role forever.
The Long Delay Ultimately Cost Laurie The Role
Following Sydney Pollack’s passing in May 2008, the film rights to ‘The Night Manager’ became available, marking a new chapter in the project’s development. Eventually, the idea of making it into a TV miniseries took shape, giving Laurie another chance to act in the movie he had long dreamed of.
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Yet the actor’s chances were slim in the casting process, since the role of Pine was already out of his reach because of his age. When filming of the BBC show finally began in 2016, the character was already expected to be played by a relatively young man.
As Laurie was long past his youth, he couldn’t join the pool of actors contesting for the role. Eventually, Tom Hiddleston secured the part, leaving Laurie with no choice but to make peace with the fact that his dream would remain unfulfilled forever.
Interestingly, Laurie remained involved in the project by taking on the role of Richard Roper, the sophisticated and ruthless arms dealer who serves as the story’s primary antagonist. After waiting 23 years for ‘The Night Manager’ to reach the screen, Laurie finally got his chance to be part of the adaptation, even if it wasn’t for the role he had desired.
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