Summary

• Apple extends Mick Herron's partnership with the development of his novel Down Cemetery Road amid Slow Horses' success.
• Down Cemetery Road will expand Mick Herron's Apple TV+ universe and be the perfect replacement for Slow Horses.
• Down Cemetery Road may be released after the premiere of Slow Horses season 5.

2016's Real Tigers serving as inspiration for season 3. However, Apple TV+ is evidently happy with the show and is extending its partnership with Herron outside Slow Horses.

Slow Horses' story revolves around a section of MI5 called the Slough House, which is essentially where the most undesirable agents are sent after proving to be incompetent at their jobs. As a result, these MI5 rejects are known as "slow horses." They complete menial istrative tasks instead of partaking in exciting fieldwork, and their curmudgeon boss — the Slow Horses characters often find themselves investigating serious crimes that threaten national security.

Down Cemetery Road Will Be The Perfect Replacement For Slow Horses On Apple TV+

Down Cemetery Road Is Also Based On One Of Mick Herron's Books

While Slow Horses is on a hiatus between seasons 3 and 4, Apple TV+ announced that it is developing a new thriller television series titled Down Cemetery Road (per Slow Horses' perfect replacement.

Slow Horses season 4 will adapt Mick Herron's 2017 novel Spook Street from the Slough House series, while 2018's London Rules inspires season 5.

Not only are Down Cemetery Road and Slow Horses based on Herron's books, but they also share a writer — Morwenna Banks. Banks is the lead writer and executive producer of the series, indicating that it will contain themes and tones similar to the 2022 spy thriller. Down Cemetery Road stars Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson as the two main characters (Zoë Boehm and Sarah Tucker, respectively) who forces to investigate the disappearance of a girl following a house explosion. Of course, the story takes many twists and turns as the duo continues trying to solve the mystery.

Down Cemetery Road Proves Apple Is Doubling Down On Its Slow Horses Success

Apple TV+ Continues Working With Mick Herron

The news surrounding the Down Cemetery Road series suggests that Apple is quite satisfied with Slow Horses' performance on its streaming service. Apple executives have faith in Mick Herron's work and want to expand the 2022 spy thriller show's universe by adding Down Cemetery Road to Apple TV+'s list of future projects. It's also clear that Herron enjoys collaborating with the streaming platform, as well, since the author has signed on as an executive producer of Down Cemetery Road.

Down Cemetery Road is described as a "companion piece" for Slow Horses on Apple TV+, so it seems the two works will connect.

Slow Horses' episodes have received high critical acclaim — the show holds a 97 percent Tomatometer rating and a 94 percent Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, as of the writing of this article. Critics applauded the Apple TV+ series for its fresh take on the spy genre, impressive cast performances, and ability to only get better as time goes on (an almost impossible feat in the world of television). Additionally, Gary Oldman won the Satellite Award for Best Actor – Drama or Genre Series for his role as Jackson Lamb and has received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for his work.

Is Down Cemetery Road Connected To Slow Horses?

Mick Herron Wrote Down Cemetery Road 7 Years Before Slow Horses

Down Cemetery Road is described as a "companion piece" for Slow Horses on Apple TV+, so it seems the two works will connect. Mick Herron published Down Cemetery Road seven years before releasing Slow Horses, though, so it will be interesting to see how the stories in the two shows overlap (or if there will be any crossovers). Nevertheless, fans have even more content to look forward to while waiting for Slow Horses season 4 (expected to debut in late 2024), and by the time season 5 arrives, Down Cemetery Road might be ready to premiere, as well.

A release date for Down Cemetery Road has not been announced yet, but it is entering production.

Sources: Deadline, Rotten Tomatoes