He jets off on his first mission, with Rose seeing him off.
How did you find the book and make it into a Netflix series?
Will you be interested in reading to consider adapting it?
Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland in ‘The Night Agent’Dan Power/Netflix
and I said, Send it over, and well see.
I finished it in two days.
I also knew there wasnt enough in the book to fill out a full TV season.
Gabriel Bassoin ‘The Night Agent’Netflix
But I didnt have enough ideas on that front for its own TV show.
So I disappeared for five days, and I wrote the script and shared it with Sony.
This is a political thriller, so they wanted to know what happens in the rest of the season.
It all happened very fast.
DEADLINE:Lets address a couple of changes that you made.
You gave the killer, Dale, a female partner, Ellen, for aNatural Born Killersvibe.
To have the sole assassin worried me.
And in the TV/film world Ive seen a lot of sort of Russian bad guys.
Those were characters that were part of my Secret Service idea.
Chelsea and Erik, the two Secret Service agents tasked with protecting Maddie, have to have this relationship.
Well, turns out hes not very happy about it.
DEADLINE:Quick sidebar question.
The Chief of Staffs name on the show, Diane Farr, is the same in the book.
Do you know if it has any connection to the actress Diane Farr?
RYAN: No, but I will say that the actress did audition for the role.
And we were like, Oh my God.
I was like, its tough to tell Diane Farr she cant play Diane Farr.
I felt really bad because shes a really great actress and gave a really good audition.
So I am aware but I dont think the author Matthew Quirk intentionally tied it to the actress.
DEADLINE:I have to ask about Hongs hair.
She was barely 40 when she was cast as Diane.
How did the decision to give her that grey hair come about?
If you saw her at the Oscars, she looks amazing, shes beautiful.
And she sent me two pictures.
How often do you have actresses coming to you saying, Hey, Id like to look older?
it shows the commitment to the role.
I rewatched early episodes, looking for clues, but that turn came very much out of the blue.
And then we went back and went through each episode to figure out how weve answered all the questions.
So I believe that were rock solid and tight on that.
DEADLINE:I was not familiar with Gabriel Basso but he looks like a bonafide leading man.
How did you find him?
RYAN: Those guys are hard to find.
By the way, we didnt have to go to Australia or England to find him.
He is the St. Louis kid.
I think its going to be onThe Night Agentbut hes got big things in his future.
DEADLINE:A lot of people died in the show, many innocent ones.
I would argue for a few but specifically for Cisco.
Was there any talk about keeping him alive?
He was such a great guy, and so young, it was painful to see himdie.
Did you consider not killing off all the people that you did?
RYAN:Well, we didnt kill off everyone we could have.
We had conversations about what his fate would be.
I do think it was important for Peters emotional journey and his guilt that he feels at Ciscos loss.
So the script was pretty much in place.
And then what we had is we cast someone who youre really rooting for and like so much.
So yeah, I think the death was really painful.
I would argue that that speaks well for that character and the show that you have that reaction.
But that was the story we set out to tell, and we told it.
DEADLINE:I want to focus on the ending; you mentioned that Gordon Wick got away.
Theres no book, so what would a potential Season 2 be based on?
Is it is going to be a completely different story?
I certainly have some ideas; I probably want to keep those to myself until the time comes.
That was the original plan; I think its still a pretty solid plan.
To me it was important.
They learn what the truth is about Peters father, they learn what the conspiracy was.
you’re able to feel a sense of completion.
But thats something that Id have to sit down with the writers and have it all figured out.
Where is he going?
DEADLINE:You expanded Peter and Roses relationship on the show in a major way.
And I think we were able to, because of the length of the show.
So I love the idea that we could really take our time and earn that relationship.
And I hope thats recognized by the companies and I hope that theres an agreement that averts a strike.
And beyond that I dont really want to say anything else.
DEADLINE:Any final thoughts and a message to viewers?
RYAN: Were extraordinarily proud of the show.
The people whove watched it, the reaction has been incredible.
I would say, watch one episode and I dare you not to watch the second.
