“The Night Agent” made waves on Netflix in March 2023, propelled by its dedicated and energetic lead, Peter Sutherland, played by Gabriel Basso.

This intriguing tale follows a rookie FBI agent who is stuck monitoring a late-night desk in the White House’s basement. When the phone finally rings, he leaps into action to save the nation. The show captivated viewers, remaining in Netflix’s global Top 10 for 13 weeks, and it ranked as the seventh most popular TV show on the platform, with an impressive 134 million views.

Despite the show’s success, Basso, now 30, believes his life hasn’t notably changed among his expanding yet somewhat reserved fanbase as they prepare for Season 2 to start streaming.

“I do get recognized, but I’m not exactly approaching people for conversations,” Basso shares. “There’s a bit of hesitation when it comes to approaching me. But I’m friendly! I’m not intimidating, especially when someone gives me a compliment.”

Basso’s powerful performance has garnered well-deserved praise. The series’ creator and executive producer, Shawn Ryan, known for his work on action-packed series like CBS’s “S.W.A.T.” and FX’s “The Shield,” describes Basso as “the most skilled stunt actor I’ve ever collaborated with.”

“He’s done so many of the stunts that viewers can clearly see it’s him,” Ryan notes, referencing his adaptation of the series from Matthew Quirk’s bestselling novel released in 2019. “But Gabriel is often underestimated for his ability to convey internal conflict through his expressions and reactions.”

The emotional struggle is constant. In Season 1, Peter teams up with tech entrepreneur Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) to expose a terrorist plot at the White House, save the president, and discover love in the process. Following the romantic conclusion, Peter has moved up from his desk job to become a full-fledged night agent.

Season 2 starts about nine months later (just enough time for Peter’s injuries to heal), with him stepping out hand in hand with a new partner, Alice (Brittany Snow). But fans of action and romance need not worry—Alice is actually a mentor training Peter in his new counterintelligence role, and they are disguised as a newlywed couple.

“Oh, the twist! It’s amusing to play with the audience’s expectations,” Basso states. “However, Alice teaches him valuable lessons about the reality of having loved ones in this line of work, which is a harsh revelation for Peter.”

When an operation goes sideways and Peter finds himself on the run, Rose comes to his aid. “Never date a hacker; they’ll find you,” Basso quips. Together, they navigate their trust issues while contending with another government conspiracy and trying to prevent a terrorist chemical weapons threat.

Where Have We Seen ‘Night Agent’ Gabriel Basso Before?

This hit series has illuminated the career of former child actor Gabriel Basso, who previously appeared in J.J. Abrams’ “Super 8” (2011) and the coming-of-age film “The Kings of Summer” (2013). He also portrayed a young JD Vance in the 2020 film adaptation of the vice president’s memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”

During the hiatus between “Night Agent” seasons, Basso grew out his beard for his role as suspected murderer James Michael Sythe in Clint Eastwood’s film “Juror #2.” Even in this courtroom drama, Basso embraced physical realism by incorporating signs of battle damage to reflect his character’s tough side.

“I requested a cauliflower ear. Initially, my beard was much longer—I wanted people to look at me and think, ‘He’s a criminal,'” Basso explains. “However, they made me shave it off to appear more relatable.”

The martial arts enthusiast has real fighting experience, even winning an amateur kickboxing match at the 2023 MMA event Beaufort Brawl 3. “You might not expect an actor to want to fight, considering they need their faces for their careers, but I have other talents,” says Basso, acknowledging some chipped teeth from the scrapes.

Such combat skills are essential for the numerous fight sequences in “Night Agent,” which he proudly performs. He also tackles high-octane running scenes with energy. “We filmed all those chase scenes in one night,” Basso recalls. “I was literally running for my life until 2 in the morning—all sprinting.”

As the lead, he executed stunts requiring him to leap off falls, roll down stairs, and jump from a rig on the side of a Bangkok building alongside his stunt double. Despite these exhilarating stunts, Basso is undeterred by heights; he has flown out of a blimp multiple times for promotional events. For instance, he parachuted over Houston’s NRG Stadium to promote Season 2 during the NFL Christmas games—and did it again for fun afterward.

“That jump was for promotion, not directly for my show,” Ryan clarifies, admitting the stunt was “pretty awesome.” Basso shows no fear in such situations.

“It feels odd to be afraid of anything above 100 feet because, ultimately, it’s all the same if you fall. You might as well jump from 15,000 feet. Knowledge removes fear. After a few jumps, it’s no longer terrifying. You get plenty of stimulation, but it turns into an analytical experience. Instead of being a passive participant, you take charge of your own life. Just don’t be reckless!”