The Night Manager favourite to return to John Le Carré universe with another BBC spy drama

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Hugh Laurie is joining the cast of a new spy thriller called Legacy of Spies, a large-scale production from the BBC and MGM. The show, based on a John le Carré story, is expected to be a major event with a significant budget and a cast of well-known actors.

The show will largely be based on two of John le Carré’s spy novels: The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and A Legacy of Spies. Both books feature the popular character George Smiley and are connected to each other.

Matthew Macfadyen, known for his role in Succession, will be taking on the lead in a new series. This marks his return to the world of espionage after previously appearing in Spooks. Details about Hugh Laurie’s character are still under wraps, but an official announcement is expected shortly, according to Deadline.

Laurie, a huge fan of John le Carré, recently returned as the character Richard Roper in season two of The Night Manager. The season ended with a surprising twist, paving the way for a third and final season that has already been confirmed.

Filming for Legacy of Spies is currently happening, which might be delaying the final installment fans are waiting for. However, David Farr, who oversaw The Night Manager, has promised the wait won’t be another decade long.

Stephen Cornwell, John le Carré’s son, is leading the creative direction of this new adaptation. He co-wrote the scripts with Clarissa Ingram, and Michael Lennox, known for his work on ‘Say Nothing’, is the lead director and executive producer.

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Legacy of Spies features Dan Stevens, known for Zero Day, as the spymaster Bill Haydon. Charlie Hunnam, from Monster, plays intelligence officer Alec Leamas, while Felix Kammerer, of All Quiet on the Western Front, portrays Hans-Dieter Mundt from East Germany. Agnes O’Casey, who starred in Star City, reprises her stage role as Liz Gold.

According to the BBC, the story begins with Alec Leamas witnessing the death of one of his agents by East German guards, all while the Berlin Wall is newly built and looming over everything.

I’ve always been fascinated by Leamas, a top British intelligence officer stationed in Berlin. For him, it seemed like the Cold War was losing its grip. He was facing either retirement or, even worse, being stuck with boring paperwork. But then, his boss, Control, offered him a chance – a really unusual one – to get back at those who’d wronged him. It felt like a way out, a chance for revenge, and I was eager to see how it would unfold.

Leamas pretends to be a washed-up, disillusioned former spy to lure Mundt, a high-ranking East German intelligence officer, into a trap. George Smiley quietly oversees the operation, ensuring everything unfolds according to the plans of their superior, Control.

Legacy of Spies is coming soon to BBC One.

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Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, focusing on the newest and most popular shows on television and streaming platforms. Before TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast for ITVX. He also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-06-04 18:40