By Irshad Khan 
Oscar winner Gary Oldman has officially wrapped filming on Slow Horses season 6, with the acclaimed Apple TV+ espionage thriller now entering post-production ahead of its anticipated fall 2026 premiere. The actor confirmed in late October 2025 that principal photography has concluded on the sixth installment, which adapts two Mick Herron novels—Joe Country and Slough House—for the first time in the series’ history. With season 7 already greenlit and set to begin filming shortly, the Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning spy drama continues its impressive momentum as one of Apple TV+’s most critically acclaimed original series.
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Production Complete: Oldman Confirms Wrap
Gary Oldman confirmed in late October 2025 that filming on Slow Horses season 6 has officially wrapped, marking another milestone in the series’ remarkably efficient production schedule. The actor, who has received Golden Globe, Emmy, and BAFTA Award nominations for his portrayal of the irascible Jackson Lamb, shared the news during interviews promoting the show. Oldman expressed continued gratitude for the opportunity to bring this complex character to life, calling it his dream role across six seasons.
Post-production work is now underway at Apple TV+ facilities, with editors and visual effects teams polishing six new episodes for the anticipated fall 2026 release. The streamer has maintained an impressive track record of hitting seasonal release windows, with seasons typically premiering in September or October. Given this pattern and the completed principal photography, fans can reasonably expect season 6 to debut around September or October 2026, continuing the show’s annual release cadence.
A Creative Shift: Adapting Two Novels for the First Time
Slow Horses season 6 represents a significant departure from the series’ established format. For the first time, a single season will adapt elements from two of Mick Herron’s Slough House novels—Joe Country (book six) and Slough House (book seven)—rather than following the previous pattern of one book per season. This creative decision allows the show to maintain momentum while addressing both novels’ interconnected narratives and themes.
Joe Country introduces new recruit Lech Wicinski and sees Jackson Lamb “evening the score” by sending the Slow Horses after a man who previously killed one of their own. Slough House explores the impact of Brexit alongside a growing populist movement, while members of the Slow Horses begin dying under unusual circumstances. The official synopsis from Apple TV+ teases: “Season 6 sees the Slow Horses on the run as Diana Taverner embroils them all in a fatally high-stakes game of retaliation and revenge.”
Behind-the-Scenes Changes: New Showrunner Takes the Reins
Season 6 also marks a transition behind the camera. Will Smith (not to be confused with the Hollywood actor), who served as showrunner for the first five seasons, has stepped away from the series as confirmed by Deadline in July 2025. Gaby Chiappe has taken the reins to lead season 6, while fellow writer Ben Vanstone is focused on spearheading the already-greenlit season 7. Director Adam Randall, who helmed season 4, returns to direct season 6.
Despite these behind-the-scenes changes, industry observers remain confident that Slow Horses will maintain its quality and distinctive voice. The show has earned a reputation for smooth production transitions, with Apple TV+ and the creative team demonstrating consistent commitment to preserving the series’ acclaimed tone and character development across multiple seasons.
Critical Acclaim and Awards Recognition
Slow Horses has become one of Apple TV+’s crown jewels, earning widespread critical acclaim and audience devotion since its 2022 premiere. All five seasons hold “Certified Fresh” scores on Rotten Tomatoes, with two seasons receiving rare, perfect 100% critics’ scores. The series has been celebrated as “undoubtedly the best spy series on television,” a “truly epic espionage thriller” that is “utterly brilliant” and “so damn good,” with critics praising it as “darkly funny and tighter than the buttons on Lamb’s sauce-stained shirt.”
Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Jackson Lamb has earned him Golden Globe, Emmy, and BAFTA Award nominations, cementing the role as one of his most celebrated television performances. The series has won multiple Emmy and BAFTA Awards, with particular recognition for its writing, direction, and ensemble performances. Jay Hunt, Apple TV+’s creative director for Europe, stated: “Audiences around the world have fallen in love with the Slow Horses, and I’m delighted that Gary Oldman will be leading this star-studded cast on another acerbic and action-packed adventure.”
Cast Returning for Season 6
Gary Oldman leads the confirmed returning cast as Jackson Lamb, with the core ensemble expected to reprise their roles. The show’s regular cast includes Jack Lowden (River Cartwright), Kristin Scott Thomas (Diana Taverner), Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Samuel West, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Ruth Bradley, Tom Brooke, Joanna Scanlan, and Jonathan Pryce, though complete casting details have not been officially announced.
The season 5 finale included a teaser for season 6, showing Jackson Lamb and Roddy Ho knocking on Emma Flyte’s door with a young boy in tow, sparking immediate speculation about the upcoming storyline. This glimpse suggests season 6 will feature the Slow Horses dealing with high-stakes consequences while potentially protecting or investigating the mysterious child character.
Season 7 Already Greenlit
In a testament to the show’s success, Apple TV+ greenlit Slow Horses season 7 during summer 2025, with filming set to begin in late October 2025—shortly after season 6 production wrapped. This rapid turnaround demonstrates Apple’s confidence in the franchise and ensures minimal downtime for cast and crew. Ben Vanstone will serve as showrunner for season 7, which is expected to adapt Herron’s eighth novel, Dead Lions, or potentially other entries in the ongoing book series.
The back-to-back production schedule mirrors the efficient workflow that has allowed Slow Horses to maintain its annual release pattern. Seasons are typically filmed in pairs with shorter intervals between releases: Season 1 premiered in April 2022, followed by Season 2 in December 2022 (eight months apart); Season 3 arrived in November 2023, with Season 4 following in September 2024 (nine-and-a-half months apart); and Season 5 premiered in September 2025. This consistency has helped build and maintain audience momentum across multiple years.
Oldman on the Future of Slow Horses
Gary Oldman has spoken enthusiastically about continuing with Slow Horses for the foreseeable future. In April 2022, he told Deadline: “It’s up to all the big people upstairs and the audience and obviously the viewership and what Apple [says]. But, yeah, I could see myself playing Jackson for the next how many years.” More recently, Oldman suggested that ending his acting career with Slow Horses would make him “very lucky,” indicating his deep attachment to the role and the series.
The actor’s commitment to Jackson Lamb reflects the character’s complexity and the quality of Mick Herron’s source material. Oldman has consistently praised the writing, the ensemble cast, and Apple TV+’s support for the series. His enthusiasm, combined with the show’s critical and commercial success, suggests Slow Horses could continue well beyond season 7, particularly given Herron’s ongoing book series provides ample source material for future adaptations.
What to Expect from Season 6
Based on the official synopsis and source material, Slow Horses season 6 will feature the team “on the run” as Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) draws them into a “fatally high-stakes game of retaliation and revenge.” The adaptation of both Joe Country and Slough House suggests themes of vengeance, political upheaval, and the personal costs of espionage work will dominate the narrative. Expect the series’ trademark blend of dark humor, tense action sequences, and sharp character development to continue.
With production complete and post-production underway, Slow Horses season 6 is on track for fall 2026, bringing Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb and the dysfunctional MI5 rejects of Slough House back for another acerbic, action-packed adventure. For fans of intelligent espionage thrillers with genuine character depth, the wait promises to be worth it.