John le Carré‘s most famous creation is headed back to the screen for the first time in fifteen years. George Smiley, the dutiful intelligence operative of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and many more, will appear in Legacy of Spies, a new series on MGM+. Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) will star as the new Smiley in the series, and now we have our first look at him as the series wraps up filming.
Smiley first appeared in Call for the Dead, the first novel by le Carré (whose real name was David Cornwell), and went on to appear in many of his subsequent books; unassuming and unglamorous, Smiley was the antithesis of spies like James Bond, but le Carré never portrayed him as anything but competent, dedicated, and occasionally completely ruthless. Smiley has been depicted a number of times on screen by a variety of acclaimed actors, including James Mason, Alec Guinness, and Gary Oldman.
Now, it’s Macfadyen’s turn to portray Smiley in Legacy of Spies, as seen in new images released by MGM+. He certainly looks the part, with Smiley’s off-the-rack Cold War-era suits and unfashionable glasses. Legacy of Spies, although it shares its title with le Carré’s final Smiley novel, will adapt a number of his books, including The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. Smiley plays a supporting role in that book, while Alec Leamas takes the lead; he’s a British agent who’s sent to East Germany to pose as a defector, with the aim of sowing disinformation. We also have our first look at the world-weary Leamas, who will be played by Charlie Hunnam. Hunnam has big shoes to fill, as Richard Burton played the character in the 1965 film adaptation of the novel.
Who Else Stars in ‘Legacy of Spies’?
In addition to Macfadyen and Hunnam, Legacy of Spies boasts an impressive cast. It also stars Daniel Brühl (Captain America: Civil War), Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu (The Empress), Agnes O’Casey (Star City), Felix Kammerer (Frankenstein), Dan Stevens (Onslaught), Jake Dunn (My Brilliant Career), Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts), Charlotte Ritchie (Legends), Joe Alwyn (Hamnet), and Hugh Laurie (House).
Legacy of Spies has completed filming, and will premiere exclusively on MGM+; no release date has yet been announced.
via Collider