In an interview from October 2024, Slow Horses executive producer Will Smith shared some hopeful news with TV Insider. He said that actor Gary Oldman is so passionate about playing his character, Jackson Lamb, that he’d love to keep doing it for as long as possible. Since Mick Herron, the author behind the original book series, is still writing new novels, Smith added that he hopes the show will continue “for as long as people want it.”
The spy drama, which streams on Apple TV+, has already been officially renewed up to Season 6, with Season 5 scheduled to premiere in September 2025. But now, there’s fresh buzz pointing to even more episodes beyond that.
Yes, Slow Horses Season 7 looks very likely to happen. New updates hint that plans for the next chapter are already moving forward. From early details about filming to which Mick Herron book it might adapt and which cast members are expected to return, here’s everything we currently know about what’s ahead for the beloved, gritty spy thriller.
Has Slow Horses been renewed for Season 7?
There’s no official confirmation just yet about Slow Horses Season 7. However, according to a report from Deadline on June 13, filming for the seventh season is already underway, which is a pretty strong sign that the show is moving forward behind the scenes. While Apple TV+ hasn’t made a public announcement about the renewal yet, outlets like TV Insider have reached out to the platform for confirmation.
So, while nothing’s been formally declared, the cameras are reportedly rolling, and that’s a very good indication that more Lamb-led chaos is coming our way.
When will Slow Horses Season 7 begin filming?
As reported by Deadline, filming for Slow Horses Season 7 is expected to kick off this fall in the U.K., with production likely starting in late September or early October. That means the cast and crew are gearing up to return to set soon, even though Apple TV+ hasn’t officially announced the new season yet. This timeline also lines up well with how previous seasons were shot, quietly but efficiently, before the platform made any public statements. So while it’s not “official” yet, it’s pretty safe to say Season 7 is on the way.
Slow Horses season 7 release date: When will Slow Horses Season 7 premiere?
It’s still early to pin down an exact release date for Slow Horses Season 7. What we do know is that Season 5 is set to premiere on Apple TV+ from September 24 through October 29, 2025, rolling out weekly episodes over that six-week span.
Season 6 has already finished filming, which means it’s likely to arrive sometime in 2026, though Apple hasn’t confirmed exactly when. If things stay on track and filming for Season 7 begins as planned in late 2025, there’s a good chance we could see Season 7 by the end of 2026 or sometime in 2027, depending on how long production and post-production take.
Which book will Slow Horses Season 7 be based upon?
The first five seasons of Slow Horses each follow one book from Mick Herron’s spy novel series, specifically, Slow Horses, Dead Lions, Real Tigers, Spook Street, and London Rules. But Season 6 is doing something a bit different by adapting two books at once, Joe Country and Slough House. That means if the show continues in order, Season 7 would likely be based on the next book in line, Bad Actors.
However, the creators have more options than just the main novels. There are also shorter stories (called novellas) and even a brand-new book called Clown Town set to be released in September. So there’s no shortage of material.
Executive producer Will Smith (not the actor) has said they’re open to doing episodes or seasons that aren’t based on the books directly, but are still set in the same universe. In an interview from October 2024, he mentioned that Mick Herron has considered creating a completely original storyline for the show. He also added that there are side characters and backstories introduced in other Herron novels that could be brought into the main series.
So, whether Season 7 sticks to Bad Actors, pulls from one of the novellas, or branches out with original material, one thing is clear: there’s plenty more Slough House world to explore.
Slow Horses season 7 plot: What will Slow Horses Season 7 be about?
That will depend on which book Season 7 ends up adapting. If the show follows the order of Mick Herron’s novels and chooses Bad Actors as its source material, then here’s a quick idea of what the story could look like:
“In London’s MI5 headquarters a scandal is brewing that could disgrace the entire intelligence community. The Downing Street superforecaster—a specialist who advises the Prime Minister’s office on how policy is likely to be received by the electorate—has disappeared without a trace. Claude Whelan, who was once head of MI5, has been tasked with tracking her down. But the trail leads him straight back to Regent’s Park itself, with First Desk Diana Taverner as chief suspect.
Has Taverner overplayed her hand at last? Meanwhile, her Russian counterpart, Moscow intelligence’s First Desk, has cheekily showed up in London and shaken off his escort. Are the two unfortunate events connected? Over at Slough House, where Jackson Lamb presides over some of MI5’s most embittered demoted agents, the slow horses are doing what they do best, and adding a little bit of chaos to an already unstable situation… There are bad actors everywhere, and they usually get their comeuppance before the credits roll. But politics is a dirty business, and in a world where lying, cheating and backstabbing are the norm, sometimes the good guys can find themselves outgunned.”
Clowntown’s synopsis goes:
“‘Old spies grow ridiculous, River. Old spies aren’t much better than clowns.’ Or so David Cartwright, the late retired head of MI5, used to tell his grandson. He forgot to add that old spies can be dangerous, too, especially if they’ve fallen on hard times—as River Cartwright is about to learn the hard way. David Cartwright, long buried, has left his library to the Spooks’ College in Oxford, and now one of the books is missing. Or perhaps it never existed. River, once a ‘slow horse’ of Slough House, MI5’s outpost for demoted and disgraced spies, has some time to kill while awaiting medical clearance to return to work, and starts investigating the secrets of his grandfather’s library.
Over at the Park, MI5 First Desk Diana Taverner is in a pickle. An operation carried out during the height of the Troubles laid bare the ugly side of state security, and those involved are threatening to expose details. But every threat hides an opportunity, and Taverner has come up with a scheme. All she needs is the right dupe to get caught holding the bag. Jackson Lamb, the enigmatic and odiferous head of Slough House, has no plans to send in the clowns. On the other hand, if the clowns ignore his instructions, any harm that befalls them is hardly his fault. But they’re his clowns. And if they don’t all make it home, there’ll be a reckoning.”
Slow Horses season 7 cast: Who’s in the Slow Horses Season 7 cast?
It’s still early to confirm who will return for Slow Horses Season 7, but based on the current trajectory and character continuity, many familiar faces are likely to reappear.
Season 5 stars a strong ensemble cast led by Gary Oldman as the brilliantly foul-mouthed Jackson Lamb, the grumpy yet oddly protective head of Slough House. Alongside him is Kristin Scott Thomas as MI5 power player Diana Taverner, and Jack Lowden as River Cartwright, the earnest and determined agent trying to prove himself.
Other returning cast members in Season 5 include:
- Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish, the calm and reliable office manager with her own secrets
- Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy, a tough and focused field agent
- Christopher Chung as Roddy Ho, the socially awkward tech genius
- Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Shirley Dander, the impulsive operative with a short fuse
- Ruth Bradley as Emma Flyte, a rising MI5 officer
- James Callis as Claude Whelan, a government official caught in internal politics
- Tom Brooke as J.K. Coe, the quiet analyst with a troubled past
- Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright, River’s grandfather and a former high-level spy
While Season 7 casting details haven’t been officially released, if the storyline continues to evolve from earlier seasons and books, we can expect many of these characters, and the actors who portray them, to return, especially Oldman and Lowden, who are central to the show’s success. Casting announcements will likely follow once filming begins in late 2025.