News round-up: BBC returns ‘The Night Manager’; Apple TV+ extends ‘Monarch’; CBS reverses SWAT axe

Tom Hiddlestone (Source: BBC)

BBC returns to The Night Manager

The BBC and Prime Video have extended drama The Night Manager into second and third seasons, eight years after the show debuted.

The show will film this year and is being produced by The Ink Factory in association with Character 7, Demarest Films and 127 Wall, and in co-production with Spanish partner Nostromo Pictures.

It is inspired by characters in John le Carré’s eponymous novel and will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and, outside of the UK, globally on Prime Video, in a deal negotiated by Fifth Season, which handles global distribution.

Tom Hiddleston (Loki) will reprise his role as Jonathan Pine, with the show picking up with Pine eight years after the finale of season one.

Series creator David Farr is again attached to write. Georgi Banks-Davies (I Hate Suzie) directs all six episodes of season two, with Stephen Garrett returning to lead the production and Hugh Laurie – who starred in the first season – exec producing.

In related news, the BBC has commissioned a second season of comedy drama Cheaters, with Clerkenwell Films producing. BBC Studios is distributor.

Apple TV+ extends Monarch

Apple TV+  has ordered a second season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters from Legendary Entertainment and struck a multi-series deal to explore spin-offs from the series.

The second installment is being executive produced by showrunners and co-creators Chris Black and Matt Fraction, along with Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures, and Matt Shakman, Andrew Colville and Jen Roskind.

Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., owner of the Godzilla character. Toho licensed the rights to Legendary Entertainment for Monarch following the two companies’ relationship on the film franchise.

Details of potential spin-off shows fro the franchise have not been revealed.

CBS reverses SWAT axe

US broadcaster CBS has reversed its plan to cancel drama series S.W.A.T. and instead confirmed an eighth run for the 2024-2025 season.

The show, which is run by Shemar Moore, is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Studios.

Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, said she was “incredibly grateful” to Sony, CBS Studios and Shemar “for working so closely with us to bring it back for next season.”

“Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of S.W.A.T.!,” she added.

Moore said: “S.W.A.T. is back! Believe in miracles! I am so proud of this show and the people and variables it has taken to make this show what it is and has become.”

Glow Up (Source: OUTtv)

Streamer OUTtv lands Glow Up

LGBTQ+ streaming service OUTtv has taken exclusive global SVOD rights outside of the UK to BBC series Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make Up Star.

The competition reality series, originally a BBC Three and Netflix co-production, offers contestants career-making breaks in the make-up industry.

It debuted in 2019 and is produced by Wall to Wall Media, with season six set to launch on OUTtv channels and SVOD services this spring.

OUTtv has become a frequent co-production partner on shows including House of Drag with TVNZ, The G-List with South Africa’s eMedia, Metro Sexual with Nine Network Australia and Shine True with Fuse Media.