Slow Horsesshowrunner, writer, and executive producer Will Smith, is set to leave the hit spy drama after season 5. Smith has helmed the hit British spy thriller since it premiered on Apple TV+ in 2022, and the show has gone on to receive critical acclaim, with Smith winning a Primetime Emmy for his writing on the show.Slow Horsesseason 4 endedin October 2024, and the show is set to return for season 5 on September 24, while also being renewed through season 7.
PerDeadline,Smith is set to leaveSlow Horsesat the conclusion of season 5, despite the show being renewed through season 7. Gaby Chiappe will take over as showrunner for season 6, with Ben Vanstone stepping in for season 7, and Smith is not expected to be involved in production at all once he steps down as showrunner. Upon his exit, Smith made a statement:
Series 5, it doesn’t end things by any means, but it concludes certain story arcs that started in Season 1, so it felt like a good moment to hand over the show. I think it’s a big show, and it’s an intense process and I suppose I didn’t want to lose the sense of fun of it. There’s two things. One, there’s the risk that you’ll start to run dry or repeat, which you have to watch. And so, it’s just getting ahead of that, and knowing when the right time is for you to give it over to somebody who can give it some new energy and freshness.
And then it’s likely that the schedule of it just becomes something that can be slightly daunting after a while. It feels like I might not be giving you my best work if I continue at this pace… I do want to emphasize, it’s not in any way that I thought I’m now too good forSlow Horses. It’s much more that I want to keep being goodenoughforSlow Horses. And I would never want it to be like, “Oh, that one wasn’t quite there.” It’s just that risk of just pushing it too far. And I just felt, I just want to go when I know I’m still delivering my very, very best for all the people that work on the show.
What This Means For Slow Horses & The Journey So Far
The Show Will Probably Evolve In A New Direction
As Smith’s comments suggest, his decision to step down isa desire to be at the top of his game, and to be able to make the show the best it can possibly be. The fact is thatSlow Horseshas evolved narratively since its premiere, andSlow Horsesseason 5will tie up many of the plot threads from the start of the show, thus leaving it in an interesting place as it goes into the confirmed seasons 6 and 7.
This will makeSlow Horsesfeel like a new show in a lot of ways, and in that regard, it makes sense to bring a fresh perspective, and to help take the show in a brand-new direction. But it is interesting that the show will change showrunners from season 6 to 7, whichperhaps indicates the desire for a stark tonal shift for the series.
Our Take On Smith’s Slow Horses Legacy
He Has Presided Over One Of Britain’s Greatest TV Shows
The fact that Smith feels like he needs to leave to maintain the quality of the show is interesting and shows the dedication with which he has crafted theSlow Horsesepisodesto date. A show as intricate and well-plotted as this clearly involves a lot of planning, writing, and plotting, and this is likely to be pretty intensive.
Having presided over one ofApple TV+’s best shows, Smith can leave knowing that the main story will have been wrapped up, and that he can bookend his time on the series in the right way. It will be interesting to see what sort of directionSlow Horseswill take under a new showrunner, but there is no question Smith’s impact will remain.
Slow Horses
Cast
Slow Horses follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents led by the notorious Jackson Lamb. Set against the backdrop of the espionage world, the agents must navigate complex operations and defend England from sinister forces, all while dealing with internal struggles and their abrasive boss.
