The BBC’s upcoming series, Legacy of Spies, based on John le Carré’s work, is adding several well-known actors to its already impressive cast.
A new eight-episode series will be based on two novels by John le Carré, ‘The Spy Who Came In From The Cold’ and ‘A Legacy of Spies’. It follows George Smiley, a top intelligence officer, and his work for the secret agency known as The Circus.
Joining the cast are new actors alongside Matthew Macfadyen, who will be playing MI6 officer George Smiley – a character previously played by Gary Oldman, Alec Guinness, and John Ramm in different films and series. Charlie Hunnam will star as field operative Alec Leamas.
Hugh Laurie, known for his role in The Night Manager, is joining the world of John le Carré adaptations again. He’ll be playing Control, the powerful and somewhat unpredictable leader of the intelligence agency known as The Circus.
Now even more names have been confirmed to fill out Smiley’s world.
Charlotte Ritchie (You, Ghosts) has joined the cast as Smiley’s quick-witted and complex wife, Ann.
Joe Alwyn, the actor from Hamnet and Conversations With Friends, is joining the cast as Jim Prideaux. His character is a charming and experienced agent known for taking risks that sometimes cause trouble with his superiors in London.
Rounding out the main cast is Anjana Vasan, known for her role in Black Mirror, as Connie Sachs, the team’s expert researcher. Lee Ross (Andor) will play Inspector Oliver Mendel, a close and reliable friend of Smiley, and Adam Hugill (Dear England) joins as Fawn, a dedicated protector and bodyguard for Smiley.
James McArdle, known for his role in ‘Playing Nice,’ will star as Percy Alleline in ‘The Circus.’ Joining him will be John Dagleish (from ‘3 Body Problem’) as Roy Bland, and Goran Bogdan (of ‘The Last Panthers’) as Toby Esterhase.
Legacy of Spies will be led by showrunner and writer Stephen Cornwell, and Clarissa Ingram.
Stephen and Simon Cornwell, who run InkFactory Productions and are the sons of the late John le Carré, expressed their excitement about Claudia Llosa joining the project. Llosa, an Academy Award and Golden Bear nominee, will direct alongside Michael, and the Cornwells believe her unique talent will make ‘Legacy’ an exceptional production.
It’s a real honor to work with Hugh Laurie and Joe Alwyn again, reprising their roles as Control and Prideaux as we expand the world of the Circus. We’re delighted Hugh is exploring a new side of the le Carré universe, building on his fantastic performance as Richard Roper in The Night Manager. And we’re thrilled to be collaborating with Joe again, having first worked with him on Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, as he joins this exciting project.
It’s deeply moving to see our father’s vision realized by such talented actors, and it’s amazing how well the whole cast works together. It truly exceeds all expectations.
The series centers on Alec Leamas (Hunnam), a seasoned intelligence operative, who enlists the help of Doris Quinz (Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu), a resourceful woman from East Germany. Their mission: to smuggle sensitive documents from the Stasi – East Germany’s secret police – into the West.
This decision starts a chain of events that could lead to a dangerous confrontation in Cold War Berlin.
Hot on the trail of Leamas and Doris are Stasi officers Josef Fiedler (Daniel Brühl) and Hans-Dieter Mundt (Felix Kammerer). They’re determined to stop the intelligence leak, but their intense competition with each other—and their unwavering dedication—fuels a constant battle to one-up the other.
Liz Gold, a determined and hopeful young woman played by Agnes O’Casey, enters the story and challenges Leamas. Her strong beliefs push him into a dangerous situation filled with shifting alliances and constant deception.
Working from the shadows, the quiet but incredibly skilled spy George Smiley (Matthew Macfadyen) manages complex operations. Meanwhile, the mysterious Soviet agent Karla remains hidden, creating a dangerous situation that will shape an entire generation.
In a dangerous world of espionage, private lives are destroyed as agents struggle with conflicting loyalties. When love and responsibility clash, even feelings can be used to manipulate and harm.
Filming for the series began in late April.
Legacy of Spies is coming soon to BBC.
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Authors
Tilly Pearce is a TV journalist who writes about a wide variety of shows, from reality dating programs like Love Is Blind to science fiction series such as Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, holding NCTJ Gold Standard accreditation, and has experience working as a deputy editor at both Digital Spy and Daily Express US.
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2026-06-10 17:38