Netflix has a massive hit on its hands, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. Gabriel Basso plays Peter Sutherland with this sort of weary, blue-collar intensity that makes the high-stakes political espionage feel... grounded. It's rare. Usually, these shows go off the rails by the second episode, but The Night Agent stayed lean.
So, let's get to the point. Will there be a season 3 of The Night Agent? Yes. Absolutely.
Netflix didn't even wait for the second season to drop before they pulled the trigger on a third. In an industry where shows get canceled on a cliffhanger every Tuesday, this is basically the streaming equivalent of a Roman triumph. They are betting big on Sutherland.
The Shocking Speed of the Renewal
It’s kind of wild when you think about it. Most creators have to sweat out the "28-day viewership window" while staring at a data dashboard in a dark room. Not Shawn Ryan. Netflix gave the green light for a third installment back in October 2024. That was months before Season 2 even had a firm release date.
Why the rush? The numbers.
The first season didn't just perform well; it nuked the charts. It currently sits comfortably in the Netflix Top 10 of all time (English language), rubbing shoulders with Wednesday and Stranger Things. When you hit those kinds of metrics, the conversation shifts from "should we?" to "how fast can we?"
Production is reportedly kicking off in Istanbul in late 2024, with plans to move back to New York for the rest of the shoot. That tells us a lot about the scale. We’re moving away from the D.C. hallways and out into the world.
What Season 3 of The Night Agent Means for Peter Sutherland
At the end of the first season, Peter wasn't just a guy answering a phone in a basement anymore. He was a "Night Action" agent. He got on that plane. He got the tablet. He got the mission.
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Season 2 is set to explore his first big field assignment, but Season 3? That’s where the character gets to breathe. Shawn Ryan has been pretty vocal about the fact that he wants each season to feel like its own self-contained book. You’ve probably noticed the show is based on Matthew Quirk’s novel, but here’s the kicker: there isn't a second book.
Quirk wrote one Night Agent novel.
Everything we are seeing now is "off-script." It’s an original expansion of the universe. That gives the writers room to play, but it also puts a lot of pressure on the storytelling to maintain that specific Quirk-esque flavor of paranoia and tight plotting.
The Casting Shift
Expect a revolving door.
Since Peter is now a field operative, the show is essentially soft-rebooting its supporting cast every year. While Luciane Buchanan (Rose) is a fan favorite, the reality of "Night Action" is that agents move on. Or they die. It’s a lonely job. Season 3 will likely introduce a whole new set of bureaucrats to distrust and villains to chase through European alleys.
Why the Delay Between Seasons Actually Matters
Fans are getting restless. I get it. The gap between the first and second seasons felt like an eternity. But there’s a reason for the lag, and it’s actually a good sign for the quality of will there be a season 3 of The Night Agent.
The 2023 strikes obviously pushed everything back. Writers' rooms were dark. Sets were empty. But when they came back, they didn't just rush out a mediocre product. They took the time to map out a multi-season arc. By renewing Season 3 early, Netflix has allowed the production team to potentially "batch" some of the work.
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While they aren't filming seasons 2 and 3 back-to-back in a literal sense, the pre-production cycles are overlapping. This usually means a shorter wait time for us. If Season 2 drops in early 2025, we could reasonably see Season 3 by mid-2026.
That’s a fast turnaround for a show this expensive.
The "Istanbul" Factor
The move to Turkey for the start of the next production cycle is a massive hint. The Night Agent is shedding its "D.C. Thriller" skin and becoming a global espionage franchise. Think Bourne Identity but with more phone calls.
Istanbul offers a specific kind of visual texture—crowded markets, ancient architecture, and a bridge between East and West. It’s a cliché for a reason: it works for spy stories. If Peter is starting his Season 3 journey there, the stakes are clearly no longer just about a bomb under a D.C. metro train. We’re talking about international geopolitical shifts.
Addressing the Skepticism
Is the show "prestige TV"? No.
Is it trying to be The Wire? Not even close.
Some critics have been a bit dismissive, calling it "dad-core" or "airplane viewing." But honestly? That’s its superpower. In a world of over-complicated, 12-hour "movies" disguised as shows, The Night Agent knows exactly what it is. It’s a propulsive, meat-and-potatoes thriller that respects your time.
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The renewal for a third season proves that there is a massive appetite for linear, high-stakes storytelling. We want to see the good guy win, even if he gets the hell kicked out of him along the way.
What You Should Watch While Waiting
Since we know will there be a season 3 of The Night Agent is a "yes," but the wait is still real, you need to fill the void. Don't just re-watch the pilot for the tenth time.
- Slow Horses (Apple TV+): It’s funnier and grittier, but captures that same sense of "government employees who are actually competent but ignored."
- Bodyguard (Netflix/BBC): Richard Madden delivers a performance very similar to Basso’s—stoic, traumatized, and dangerously good at his job.
- Reacher (Amazon): If you like the physicality of Peter Sutherland, Reacher is the logical next step, though it leans more into the "superhero" vibe than the "spy" vibe.
The Final Word on Season 3
The production is moving full steam ahead. Gabriel Basso is locked in. Shawn Ryan is at the helm. Netflix has the checkbook open.
We are looking at a ten-episode order for the third season. The strategy here is clear: Netflix wants a perennial hit they can drop every 12 to 18 months to keep subscribers from hitting that "cancel" button. It’s the Suits effect, but with more silencers and government conspiracies.
Keep an eye on official Netflix social channels around the premiere of Season 2. Usually, they’ll drop a "Season 3 teaser" or a casting announcement right when the hype is peaking for the current episodes.
Stay skeptical of any "leaks" claiming to have the full plot of Season 3 yet. Since there’s no book to follow, the only people who know what happens to Peter next are in a locked room in Los Angeles, and they aren't talking.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Check your Netflix notifications: Ensure you have "Remind Me" set for the Season 2 premiere, as high Day 1 viewership for Season 2 ensures Season 3 gets a bigger budget.
- Follow Shawn Ryan on social media: He is surprisingly transparent about production timelines and often posts "behind the scenes" looks from the writer's room.
- Re-watch Season 1, Episode 10: Pay close attention to the tablet Peter receives at the end; those few seconds of footage are the only canonical hint we have about the "Night Action" protocols that will govern the third season.