Based on the John le Carré novels "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" and "A Legacy of Spies," Macfadyen will portray George Smiley, with Hunnam as British intelligence officer Alec Leamas, Brühl as East German spy Jens Fielder, and Lingnau Islamoğlu as Doris Quinz aka Agent Tulip.
Stephen Cornwell and Clarissa Ingram developed the drama. They will executive produce with Macfadyen, Hunnam, Graham Yost, Simon Cornwell, Michele Wolkoff, Malte Grunert, Chris Rice, Steve Clark-Hall, Joe Tsai, Arthur Wang, Susanne Bier, Mike Lesslie, Gaynor Holmes, Nick Lambon, and Nick Cornwell. Sam Costin will serve as co-executive producer. Paramount Television Studios, 127 Wall Productions, The Ink Factory and Amusement Park Film will produce.
"This project is in many ways the most ambitious and all-encompassing adaptation of le Carré's work to date, taking our father's best-known and most-loved most character - the complex and brilliant spymaster George Smiley - and using this medium as a canvas to chart his story as he moves through a world which culturally and politically shapes the one we live in today," said Simon and Stephen Cornwell. "To have Matthew embody this operational mastermind, a man both vulnerable and dangerous, alongside the brilliant talent of Charlie, Daniel and Devrim, is a great coup. 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."
"Legacy of Spies is a dream le Carré project adapted by the brilliant Stephen Cornwell and Clarissa Ingram," added Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. "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!"
"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," shared Michael Wright, Global Head of MGM+. "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."
