'The Gentlemen's Giancarlo Esposito Confirms Mr. Johnston's "End Game" After Season 2's Darker Turn

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for the finale of Season 2 of The Gentlemen.The Gentlemen Season 2 is officially out now on Netflix. Guy Ritchie's gangster series takes inspiration from his 2019 film, and Season 2 takes what happened in Season 1 and turns the show into a completely new beast. The new season follows Eddie Horniman (Theo James) as his criminal empire grows. Under the guidance of Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone), Eddie has expanded the business out into Italy, and working alongside Susie (Kaya Scodelario), the weed business has never been better. However, when Eddie decides to go rogue and go against Bobby's plans, the show takes its darkest turn yet. Bobby, aiming to teach Eddie a lesson, leaves him nearly dead in a shallow grave. To rub salt in the wound, after Eddie heals, he marries Bella (Benedetta Porcaroli), who tragically dies in a plane explosion meant to kill him. Season 2 sees Bobby go to strange places as his belief in the mythological forces both Susie and Eddie to question his sanity. At the same time, Eddie seeks guidance from an enigmatic Stanley Johnston (Giancarlo Esposito), who seems to believe he is destined for far more than just the world of crime. The only positive influence in his life seems to be Geoff (Vinnie Jones), Eddie's gamekeeper and the secret father of his half-sister, Charly (Jasmine Blackborow). Collider speaks with Winstone, Esposito, and Jones about their Season 2 storylines and what the future might hold for them in the future. COLLIDER: Ray, how much do you hate saunas at this point? RAY WINSTONE: Well, do you know what? I do like a sauna. I prefer a steam. VINNIE JONES: Yeah, me too. WINSTONE: I like steam, you know? And a little rub down after, getting in the cold water. I'm going to freeze up and back in the steam, a nice rub down. Can't beat it. Some little hands on your body. WINSTONE: Yeah, the littler the hands, the better. JONES: And the less hairy. WINSTONE: If you know what I mean. Ray Winstone on What's Happened to Bobby in Season 2 "...I'm not sure myself yet where I'm going to take it." Image via Netflix There is a slight concern during this season that Bobby is starting to lose it a little bit. He mentions the Bannick, and that seems to be this sort of mythical being that he keeps seeing in the sauna — that we see as well — and he knows he can't trust Eddie because he gets the little scratches on his back. But after everything that has happened, do you think his trust in Eddie is restored, or do you think he's just trying to keep his friends close and his enemies closer? WINSTONE: Do you know what? I'm still thinking about it. I'm not sure. I'm treading lightly here because, with me, I'm not quite sure where I'm going, whether he's losing his mind or not, or whether he's playing a game. So, I think I'll leave it there because I'm not sure myself yet where I'm going to take it. How Will Bobby React to Susie's Betrayal and Going Behind His Back? "He's created his own Frankenstein there." Image via Netflix Where do you think Bobby's going to land when he finds out his daughter is getting into dealing cocaine? WINSTONE: I think that can end rather badly. JONES: Fireworks. WINSTONE: But, you know, that's kids. He's created his own Frankenstein there. He's created a daughter that is very much like him — it’s him in a dress, you know? But she's taking it on, and she's the new breed. It’s like today with social media. Our kids deal with social media where we never used to, and that's the way forward. People get jobs today on how many people they got on social media for them. So, it's a whole different world, and so she's developing something on her own. So, I've created that, really, and it’s whether I accept that and how much I love my daughter. I love my daughter, but you know what? We're gangsters. He taught Eddie a pretty big lesson this season. Are there any lessons to be taught for Susie? I can’t imagine it’ll be that bad. WINSTONE: It’s a bit of tough love, but it's how much you're going to put up with. You put the whole relationship, the whole business, the whole empire in danger by doing something I told you not do. So, we'll see where that goes. Giancarlo Esposito Decides Whether Stanley Johnston Is a True Believer in Eddie "I think Stanley Johnston is in for the long game." Image via Netflix Giancarlo, Mr. Johnston gets very, very cryptic and mythic in this season. I really enjoyed your little monologues. Is there a path that he's pushing Eddie down that he's clear about? What is his ultimate goal? Is he a true believer, or is he playing Eddie? GIANCARLO ESPOSITO: Well, I have to be honest with you, Stanley Johnston is so well-studied and well-versed, well-educated in terms of history and past and present, and I think he is there to remind Eddie of his own particular history and to push him deeper into the knowledge of who he really is. And I think at this point, he sees something in Eddie that he admires and that he would like to cultivate, and I think Stanley Johnston is in for the long game. I think he's going to cultivate Eddie, and I think he has an idea of where that should go. And so I don't think anyone in this show is particularly released from their character being informed by an outcome that they desire. We’re human beings; we want something. Whether we are able to voice that and be consciously aware of that or not does not matter. Something inside of us is guiding us down a certain path, and when that path is undeniable, there is something that we want. So I think in the back of Stanley Johnston's mind, and I would think with Stanley and with me behind him and with Guy [Ritchie] behind the characterizations that are within this piece, that there is definitely an end game for Stanley Johnston. Is Stanley Johnston Making a Move Against Bobby? "...they seem to understand each other in a way where others wouldn't." Image via Netflix Is he making a move against Bobby? Because that makes more sense to me than all these comments about the London Stone and all these things. ESPOSITO: I think it's a very deep possibility. There is a protocol and a civilization that was deeper and more well-informed, more spiritually connected than our own, than that of the gangster. And so there is something that Stanley Johnston is trying to restore in Eddie, and the possibility of what you just mentioned is available. Would Bobby and Stanley work together? That's available too, because they seem to understand each other in a way where others wouldn't. There is also the idea in thinking that we come from a more cultivated old world. I'm an old-school dude. I have old-school, old-world values, and there's something to be said about that within the show with Bobby's child and with Eddie. There's a different value system there. There's a new world. They don't look at consequences the way we do. We want to keep growing, but we want to keep it within a realm that we're not going to be looked at and suspected by the powers that be that are going to crush us. In our world, we find connections between those in politics who can protect us, those in the police department, those higher who control the purse strings of the politics. But those people now in our world are people who want the money that we make. So is there enough room for everybody? I don't know. We’ll find out. There never is. ESPOSITO: There never is. Vinnie Jones Discusses Eddie's Big Changes to Character in 'The Gentlemen' Season 2 "He's the last man standing kind of thing." Image via Netflix Vinnie, I think Jeff is probably the closest thing Eddie has to a decent father figure in this show, present company notwithstanding, but do you think there's a part of him that's worried about the dark path that Eddie is going down? Because I think it's really something that should be concerning to anybody who cares about him. JONES: Yeah, but I also think Jeff, at the start of Episode 1, says, “I used to be 40,000 acres," or whatever it was, "and I want it back.” Jeff agrees. Jeff wants it all back as well, but I think he gets alarmed at how he wants to do it and nothing will get in his way. So, I think, the same as Bobby Glass, I think he's concerned that he's going to get out of hand, but Jeff will still be there, whatever happens. It's one of them, you know? So, yeah, I think he's just got to look after him. If he makes that decision, he doesn't have to agree, but he'll go along with him. Whether it's taking him to hospital, or taking him home or getting him home, that's the loyalty. He's the last man standing kind of thing. The Gentlemen Season 2 is now available to stream on Netflix. Release Date 2024 - 2026-00-00 Network Netflix Directors David Caffrey, Guy Ritchie, Eran Creevy, Nima Nourizadeh Writers Stuart Carolan, Guy Ritchie, Matthew Read, Billy Mason Wood, Haleema Mirza Creator(s) Guy Ritchie, Matthew Read