Slow Horses Movie Adapting Spinoff Book Teased By Apple TV+ Showrunner

With Slow Horses at the end of its fourth season, showrunner Will Smith has alluded to a potential adaptation of Mick Herron's latest book, The Secret Hours. The novel explores a covert investigation into a long-buried scandal inside British intelligence, adding new dimensions to the espionage universe established in the Slough House series, which the AppleTV+ show is based on.

In a recent interview with Collider, Herron discussed the possibility of bringing the spinoff book to the screen. The book is set in the same universe as Slough House and takes place after the events of the eighth novel. Although given the source material, Herron told Collider that a TV show for The Secret Hours would not be the choice of medium. Read his quote below:

I do think, though, there's a great book he wrote, the last book that came out, which is in the Slough House universe, and Slow Horses do come into it, which is called The Secret Hours. That could be a movie or a more limited number just because of the nature of that story. But in terms of the main books, I think six is the one.

What This Means For The Slow Horses Universe

The Expansion Of Herron's Universe Could Be A Success

While the show centers on the washed-up agents of Slough House, the spinoff novel expands on the spy-thriller lore by exploring different events and characters yet maintains the signature wit and suspense readers, and viewers, love. The Secret Hours follows the aftermath of the Monochrome inquiry, an investigation launched by a hostile prime minister to expose misconduct within British intelligence. Civil servants Malcolm Kyle and Griselda Fleet are given complete access to MI5's records, only to find their efforts shut down by MI5's First Desk, a master of evasion. Just as the investigation is about to fail, an unexpected case file reveals a tragic and scandalous 1994 Berlin operation that changed decades of history.

The standalone novel offers a captivating blend of humor and intrigue while discovering revelations tied to Herron's Slough House universe. Adapting it as a movie would allow AppleTV+ to elevate the material with a more cinematic experience, introducing viewers to a fresh take on espionage without having to rely solely on Jackson Lamb's team's well-known characters. It is an opportunity to expand Herron's universe while maintaining the show's momentum alive between seasons.

Our Take On The Potential Adaptation

It Could Introduce Slow Horses To A New Audience

Image via Apple TV+

The screen adaptation of The Secret Hours presents an opportunity to try out a new, faster-paced way of storytelling, which would differ from Slow Horses' renowned complex plotting and slow-burn storytelling, and the movie could serve as an accessible entry point for viewers who have not watched the full series or read the books, to get started.

Related How Accurate Is Slow Horses? 6 Things The Show Gets Wrong About MI5 Based on the Slough House novels by Mick Herron, Slow Horses isn't a totally accurate depiction of MI5, though the spy thriller nails some details.

While the show's creators have not confirmed any production plans for the film, the possibility of The Secret Hours hitting the big screen has already generated buzz for readers and viewers alike. Slow Horses has already cemented its place as one of Apple's standout series, and this prospective movie could help demonstrate Herron's storytelling range. Whether it serves as a bridge between seasons or an independent narrative, this possible adaptation hints at exciting developments for both the show and the audience.

Source: Collider