Apple TV+’s acclaimed espionage drama Slow Horses will soon lose its longtime showrunner. Will Smith, who has led the series since its debut, announced that he will step down after Season 5, even though the show has already been renewed for Seasons 6 and 7.
In a statement to fans, Smith explained that his decision comes down to maintaining quality and creative freshness. The series, starring Gary Oldman as the gruff MI5 agent Jackson Lamb, has earned consistently strong reviews — holding a 98% average rating across its first four seasons. Smith said the pressure to keep delivering at that level made him reflect on when it might be the right time to hand the reins to someone else.
“I didn’t want to lose the sense of fun of it,” Smith said. “There’s always the risk of running dry or repeating yourself. I wanted to leave while I’m still delivering my best work for the show. It’s not that I’ve outgrown Slow Horses — I just never want to give fans a season that isn’t quite there.”
Smith also noted the demanding production schedule, with overlapping writing, shooting, and editing for multiple seasons at once. At one point, the team was editing Season 3, filming Season 4, and writing Season 5 simultaneously.
Two new writers will take over for the upcoming installments. Gaby Chiappe (Misbehaviour) will serve as showrunner for Season 6, while Ben Vanstone (All Creatures Great & Small) will lead Season 7. Smith emphasized that his departure is amicable and that he still considers the cast and crew close friends.
He is not stepping away from television entirely — Smith is currently working on the adaptation of the novel Caledonian Road and preparing to direct The Siege, a thriller based on Ben Macintyre’s book.
Season 5 of Slow Horses will premiere on Apple TV+ on September 24.
