‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2 Producers Discuss Their Approach to Escalating Murder
Guy Ritchie has made a name for himself by transforming British criminal underworlds into stylish spectacles, and his Netflix series demonstrates that this formula works just as effectively on television as it does in film. Since ‘The Gentlemen’ first introduced viewers to Theo James’s reluctant crime lord Eddie Horniman, the show has established a unique identity by blending aristocratic charm with brutal, campy violence.
As the narrative unfolds, that balancing act becomes increasingly complex. Season 2 takes Eddie and Kaya Scodelario’s Susie Glass beyond the English countryside, venturing into entirely new territory and raising the stakes both in terms of plot and tone.
With the new season now streaming on Netflix, the producers are sharing insights on how they continue to navigate that tonal tightrope while maintaining the essence of the series. “We are always looking for new ways to murder people,” writer and executive producer Matthew Read told Variety, perfectly encapsulating the show’s unique blend of humor and horror.
This mindset goes beyond just increasing the body count. Season 2 expands Eddie and Susie’s operations internationally, moving into what Read describes as the Mafia’s home turf in Italy. “Italy felt like a very logical place in terms of the fame of the Mafia, but also the glamor,” Read explained to Variety, highlighting the show’s signature combination of visual opulence and criminal menace as the rationale for the new setting.
Striking this balance is a serious endeavor for Read, who frequently collaborates with Ritchie throughout the writing process. He has articulated their guiding philosophy as aiming for “reality plus 7%,” a principle designed to keep the show heightened without veering into total absurdity. However, with new elements like a mythical Slavic figure entering the storyline this season, he admits that percentage might be edging closer to eight.
Miramax CEO and executive producer Jonathan Glickman echoed this focus on grounding the spectacle in genuine stakes. He hinted that Season 2 features even more significant action, specifically mentioning one episode that he describes as wall-to-wall, while emphasizing that none of it would resonate without real emotional investment in the characters caught in the chaos.
Much of that emotional thread revolves around Eddie and Susie’s evolving relationship, which shifts between business partnership and something more intricate as the season progresses. Glickman has characterized that dynamic as the anchor that allows the show’s escalating chaos to resonate with audiences, rather than devolving into mere spectacle.
On the production side, there has been a strong emphasis on visual enhancement this season. Costume designer Loulou Bontempts has described giving both leads a wardrobe upgrade now that their criminal enterprise is flourishing, featuring sharper tailoring for Eddie and a Birkin bag for Susie.
Production designer Martyn John has also shared some of the behind-the-scenes realities that contribute to the show’s polished appearance, including how the crew constructed an entire tiger enclosure using a steel gazebo purchased on eBay for £20,000. Despite the international backdrop, budget constraints meant that particular scene was filmed in a UK garden adorned with Italianate sculptures instead of on location.
This blend of genuine craftsmanship and resourceful problem-solving seems to encapsulate the show’s overall approach. Season 2 has already secured a renewal for Season 3, indicating that Netflix sees ample potential in Eddie and Susie’s expanding criminal empire.
With the producers embracing their darkly comic sensibility while pursuing bigger action and higher stakes, ‘The Gentlemen’ appears committed to discovering fresh, inventive methods to shock its audience while remaining true to the characters at its core.
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