The BBC has unveiled ‘Legacy Of Spies‘, a major new John le Carré adaptation that brings together an outstanding cast to chart George Smiley’s long pursuit of his elusive Soviet adversary Karla. The series arrives as a sweeping new take on le Carré’s Cold War universe, set across the UK, East and West Germany, and Czechoslovakia.
Created by The Ink Factory and Amusement Park Film, the adaptation is written by Stephen Cornwell with Clarissa Ingram and draws on both The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and A Legacy of Spies. Leading the cast is two time Emmy and BAFTA winner Matthew Macfadyen (Death by Lighting, Succession, Deadpool) taking on the role of legendary spymaster George Smiley.
He is joined by Charlie Hunnam (Monster, Sons of Anarchy, The Gentlemen) as British intelligence officer Alec Leamas, Daniel Brühl (All Quiet on the Western Front, Rush) as East German operative Jens Fielder and Devrim Lingnau (The Empress) as Doris Quinz, also known as Agent Tulip.
The eight part drama follows Leamas at a critical moment. In the shadow of the recently built Berlin Wall, he watches his last agent die at the hands of East German guards. Convinced the game is over and facing a bleak future in intelligence, he is handed a final mission by Control. By assuming the identity of a disgraced and bitter former agent, Leamas becomes the bait in a trap designed to bring down the deputy director of East German intelligence, Mundt. Watching from the margins is Smiley, guiding the operation with his usual quiet precision.
The Ink Factory’s Simon Cornwell and Stephen Cornwell describe the project as “the most ambitious and all-encompassing adaptation of le Carré’s work to date” and praise Macfadyen’s casting as the “complex and brilliant spymaster George Smiley”. They add: “To have Matthew embody this operational mastermind, a man both vulnerable and dangerous, alongside the brilliant talent of Charlie and Devrim, is a great coup.”
BBC Drama Director Lindsay Salt calls the series “a dream le Carré project” and promises “a very special treat” for BBC viewers. MGM+ global head Michael Wright emphasises how the series aligns with the streamer’s aim to bring classic stories to modern audiences, praising the “remarkable creative team” and its leading cast.
Behind the camera, Stephen Cornwell serves as showrunner, with Graham Yost and Malte Grunert among the executive producers. The project also includes executive producers from The Ink Factory, The John le Carré Estate, MGM+, Paramount Television Studios and the BBC, while Fifth Season handles global sales.
‘Legacy Of Spies‘ does not yet have a premiere date but will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and on MGM+ in the US. If I want to keep track of this or any other shows, I can add them via our Never Miss system, and I’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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