The BBC and MGM+ have officially unveiled the star-studded cast for ‘Legacy of Spies’, an ambitious new John le Carré series set to bring one of the author’s most celebrated eras to life. The 8 x 60’ prestige drama—set for BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK and MGM+ in the US—will be headlined by two-time Emmy and BAFTA winner Matthew Macfadyen (Death by Lightning, Succession, Deadpool) as the enigmatic master-spy George Smiley.
Joining him is Charlie Hunnam (Monster, Sons of Anarchy, The Gentlemen) as Alec Leamas, the seasoned British intelligence officer at the emotional heart of the story. Daniel Brühl (All Quiet on the Western Front, Rush) stars as Jens Fielder, a calculating East German operative, while Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu (The Empress) takes on the role of Doris Quinz, also known by her covert name, Agent Tulip.
Written by Stephen Cornwell (Message from the King, A Most Wanted Man, Unknown) with Clarissa Ingram, the series adapts le Carré’s iconic novel The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, while also weaving in material from A Legacy of Spies. The result promises to be an expansive and deeply layered espionage saga that spans decades and continents.
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The story opens in the tense aftermath of the Berlin Wall’s construction, where Alec Leamas watches helplessly as his final agent is gunned down by East German guards. For Leamas, a veteran spy stationed in Cold War Berlin, defeat feels inevitable—until British Intelligence chief Control offers him a final, dangerous assignment. Assuming the persona of a washed-up, embittered ex-agent, Leamas becomes the centrepiece of a risky operation designed to ensnare Mundt, deputy director of East German Intelligence. Behind the scenes, George Smiley observes and manoeuvres, ensuring the game unfolds exactly as Control intends.
The series will be set across the UK, as well as East and West Germany and Czechoslovakia—recreating the divided Europe that defined le Carré’s world.
Produced by The Ink Factory, the series is a co-production with Amusement Park Film and made in association with 127 Wall Productions and Paramount Television Studios, for the BBC and MGM+. Executive producers include Stephen Cornwell (who also serves as showrunner), Graham Yost, Simon Cornwell, Michele Wolkoff, Malte Grunert, Chris Rice, Steve Clark-Hall, Matthew Macfadyen, Charlie Hunnam, Joe Tsai and Arthur Wang.
