Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans in SuccessionImage via HBO
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Chris McPherson
Published 14 minutes ago
Chris is a Senior News Writer for Collider. He can be found in an IMAX screen, with his eyes watering and his ears bleeding for his own pleasure. He joined the news team in 2022 and accidentally fell upwards into a senior position despite his best efforts.
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The BBC and MGM+ are tapping into the shadowed world of intelligence, betrayal, and Cold War intrigue again, and they've got a killer cast along for the ride. Matthew Macfadyen, Charlie Hunnam, and Daniel Brühl will headline Legacy of Spies, a sweeping adaptation of John le Carré’s bestselling novel The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, with story elements folded in from A Legacy of Spies. The series is written by Stephen Cornwell (the author’s son) alongside Clarissa Ingram and is being billed as the most ambitious le Carré adaptation ever attempted.
Macfadyen will be playing George Smiley, one of the most iconic roles in Le Carré's works, the mastermind spy defined by restraint, brilliance, and emotional opacity. Hunnam (Monster) will be playing British intelligence officer Alec Leamas, while Brühl (Rush, All Quiet on the Western Front) will portray East German operative Jens Fielder. The eight-part drama follows Smiley’s relentless hunt for his nemesis — Soviet spymaster Karla — through the labyrinthine Cold War, across the U.K., Czechoslovakia, and a divided Germany.
What Can We Expect from 'Legacy of Spies'?
Simon Cornwell and Stephen Cornwell, founders and co-CEOs at The Ink Factory, said the project is the “most ambitious and all-encompassing adaptation of le Carré’s work to date.”
“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,” they continued. “We are thrilled the series has found its home with the BBC and MGM+ and to be collaborating alongside Malte and the Amusement Park team, while having Graham’s wisdom, vision and deft touch helping us guide this project — bringing his own mastery of the genre alongside that of le Carré’s.”
Director of BBC drama Lindsay Salt added: “Legacy of Spies is a dream le Carré project adapted by the brilliant Stephen Cornwell and Clarissa Ingram. We are thrilled to have The Ink Factory — who are the ultimate experts in this genre — making this series which stars some of our best actors; Matthew, Charlie, Devrim and Daniel. BBC viewers are in for a very special treat!”
Michael Wright, global head of MGM+, said: “The opportunity to partner with The Ink Factory, the BBC, and this remarkable creative team to tell the story of John le Carré’s legendary George Smiley is truly a dream project. MGM+ is building its brand around classic storytelling for a modern audience, and Legacy of Spies is the embodiment of that, with a brilliant cast led by Matthew Macfadyen and Charlie Hunnam. We’re thrilled to bring it to the MGM+ audience.”
Stay tuned for more updates.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Like Follow Followed R Drama Thriller Mystery Release Date September 16, 2011 Runtime 127 minutes Director Tomas Alfredson Writers Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan, John le Carré Producers Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo
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Gary Oldman adjusting his glasses as George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
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Tom Hardy in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
gary-oldman-colin-firth-david-dencik-and-toby-jones-in-tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.jpg
benedict-cumberbatch-in-tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.jpgBenedict Cumberbatch in 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'
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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
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