The Night Agent is returning to Netflix for season three, but Luciane Buchanan will not be reprising her role as Rose Larkin

Luciane Buchanan as Rose Larkin in The Night Agent (Image: NETFLIX)

The Night Agent is making its comeback to Netflix with season three on February 19 and viewers are eagerly anticipating Gabriel Basso’s return to screens as Night Action agent Peter Sutherland. There is, however, already some dismay surrounding the forthcoming episodes, owing to one star’s departure.

Luciane Buchanan portrays Peter’s romantic partner Rose Larkin throughout the opening two seasons of the espionage thriller and audiences adored watching the undeniable chemistry whilst the couple’s relationship experienced several intriguing developments. They were, nevertheless, left devastated after Peter committed not to contact Rose again at the conclusion of the second season.

Peter and Rose originally crossed paths in the first season, when two of Rose’s relatives, who were both involved in Night Action, were murdered and she required protection. The duo formed a strong connection, but recognised realistically it was too perilous for them to remain together.

At the conclusion of season two, Rose revealed how she had grown weary of being a potential target and desired to pursue a normal existence, which signified Peter could no longer feature in it. Despite causing them both immense pain, they committed to parting ways, leaving audiences disheartened.

Luciane Buchanan and Gabriel Basso formed a close bond (Image: NETFLIX)

Actress Buchanan clarified how she departed the series as Rose’s character arc had reached a natural conclusion and the programme’s creators could not envision where she would progress next. She told Deadline at the time: “The writers decided that they wanted to follow Peter and his journey based on what happened at the end of season two. And so, we don’t get to see what happens to Rose, but I think it’s a really exciting time for the show, and who knows, it’s not a goodbye forever.”

The Night Agent creator, Shawn Ryan, and his producing partner at MiddKid Productions, Marney Hochman, delivered the news to her. She recalled: “They called me not so long after season two, and they were like, we’ve been trying to find a way to bring her in, but we want to do her character justice and not make her a sub-character.

“I totally respected that decision and agreed. I was like, if it makes sense to a story, I’ll do that. If it doesn’t, let’s not force that.”

Ryan elaborated on why she will be absent from season three, explaining: “We always envisioned the show as telling a new story each season with a revolving cast, and the story we broke for season three, much to our chagrin, didn’t have a satisfying place for Rose.”

Rose Larkin and Peter Sutherland had a turbulent relationship (Image: NETFLIX)

He did, though, indicate he was keeping the door ajar for a possible reunion between Peter and Rose in future episodes. He continued: “I adore Luciane as a person and as a performer and I don’t believe that this means we’re done telling the story of Peter and Rose. I hope circumstances ultimately allow for the return of Rose to our Night Agent universe.”

Following her departure from the Netflix series, actress Buchanan secured a leading role in Chief of War, portraying Kaʻahumanu.

Her character is inspired by the actual queen consort who served as regent of the Hawaiian Kingdom during the late 1700s. The period drama features Jason Momoa and is set at the close of the 18th century when the four principal kingdoms of the Hawaiian Islands were engaged in conflict.

Buchanan, who hails from New Zealand, revealed to Backstage what the experience was like transitioning into a historical drama after The Night Agent. She said: “Growing up, I didn’t think I’d ever be part of a period piece. Now we have [projects] like Bridgerton, which I know is fictional, but I was like, I’ll never be in the Elizabethan era-I don’t physically look like that.

“So this was refreshing and a lovely surprise. I kind of did Chief of War and Night Agent in tandem. It was just, get the American accent out and get the Hawaiian language back in. So it wasn’t hard to turn Rose off; it was just, ‘Let’s park you over there for now’.”

The Night Agent season 3 airs on Netflix on February 19