The Night Agent creator Shawn Ryan knows a thing or two about keeping a TV show running for years. Long before he created Netflix’s massive spy thriller hit, he was the man behind The Shield, the gritty FX drama that ran for seven seasons from 2002 to 2008. Now, with The Night Agent season 3 streaming now and fans already hungry for more, Ryan is opening up about how his experience making 88 episodes of prestige cable TV is shaping the future of his Netflix franchise. He is not just thinking about season 4; he is thinking about the long game.
Drawing From The Shield Playbook For The Night Agent’s Future
Shawn Ryan recently sat down with Deadline to discuss the state of The Night Agent as season 3 arrived on the streamer. When asked about the pressure of delivering new seasons quickly, Ryan pulled from his deep well of broadcast television experience. He reminded everyone that making 10 episodes for Netflix is actually a relaxed pace compared to the old network TV days.
“This cadence is easy,” Ryan explained. “Compared to all the network stuff I did back in the day, you would have just finished making 22 episodes and before you’re even done doing post on that final episode, the writers room is starting up for the next season. When I was doing The Shield and The Unit, I think I made something like 44 episodes of TV in a calendar year. So this is nothing compared to that.”
That kind of grueling schedule taught him how to build a series that can last. The Shield ran for seven seasons and 88 episodes, and it is still talked about today as one of the best dramas in television history. Ryan wants that same legacy for The Night Agent. He is focused on making sure the show has a proper beginning, middle, and end so it can “stand the test of time” just like The Shield did.
Is Season 4 Of The Night Agent Happening?
The biggest question on every viewer’s mind right now is whether Peter Sutherland will return for another mission. The good news is that work is already happening behind the scenes. The bad news is that Netflix has not pushed the big green button just yet.
Shawn Ryan confirmed that even though season 4 is not officially picked up, Netflix quietly authorized a writers room back in 2025. “We’ve been working for a while on the storyline. We have some scripts, we are breaking stories,” Ryan told Deadline.
He explained that Netflix is being careful with its money. The streamer wants to make sure the creative side is solid before officially ordering a full season. “My guess is, sometime in the next [couple of weeks], they’ll make a decision about officially greenlighting season 4,” Ryan said.
There is also a practical reason things need to move soon. The show received a tax credit to move production from New York to Los Angeles. That credit comes with a six-month window to start filming. If Netflix renews the show quickly, the team will be ready to go with finished scripts. That means fans might not have to wait very long between seasons 3 and 4.
What Can Fans Expect From Season 4?
While plot details are being kept under wraps, the season 3 finale gave viewers a pretty clear hint about where things are heading. Spoiler alert for those who haven’t finished season 3.
At the end of the latest season, Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) tells his boss, FBI Deputy Director Aiden Mosley, that he needs to step back and find some balance in his life. He wants a break from the constant danger. Mosley seems to accept this, but he drops a tease: he has a candidate in mind to be Peter’s new partner.
Ryan confirmed that this moment is “meant to be a launching pad for season 4.” That suggests Peter might get pulled back into action with a new partner by his side. It fits the show’s format of giving Peter a fresh assignment and a mostly new cast each season.
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The Spinoff Question And Shawn Ryan’s Netflix Deal
With Ryan now working under a big overall deal at Netflix, rumors have swirled about expanding The Night Agent into a full franchise with spinoff shows. Ryan addressed this directly with Deadline, clearing up some of the noise.
“There’s been chatter,” Ryan admitted. He shot down rumors that casting was already happening for a spinoff. “There was never any casting thing or anything, that was never happening.”
He did reveal that there was a loose idea discussed after season 2. “It wasn’t fully fleshed out. It wasn’t officially pitched or anything. There were some conversations but nothing came to that,” he said.
Right now, Ryan’s main focus is getting season 4 picked up and making sure the main show is handled the right way. He praised Netflix for not rushing into spinoffs just because something is popular. “They really care about the creative, they want to know that there’s a reason why a show should exist beyond the mothership,” Ryan said.
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He left the door open for a possible spinoff down the road, but only if the right idea comes along. Until then, his priority is giving The Night Agent the same care and quality that made The Shield a classic that people still watch 20 years later.
Where To Watch The Night Agent
All three seasons of The Night Agent are available to stream now on Netflix. Season 3 dropped on February 19, 2026, and is currently available for global audiences in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India.
Also Read: David Lyons Movies and TV Shows: 5 Essential Roles From ‘Revolution’ to ‘The Night Agent’
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for the latest updates on Netflix renewals, casting news, and everything happening in the world of your favorite spy thrillers.
