Who’s Taking Over the Spy Game?

While Amazon is still roaming around looking for the right keys to the James Bond kingdom it unceremoniously bought, there’s a whole spy drama trend popping up like mushrooms after rain. Thanks to Apple TV’s Slow Horses, which has not only charmed critics but also nabbed a boatload of awards like it’s going for a world record. Seriously, it’s been so successful, it even gave birth to a quasi-spinoff led by none other than Emma Thompson! So, it’s no shocker that other networks are scrambling to jump on the espionage bandwagon.

Enter the World of John le Carré

MGM+ has linked arms with the BBC to whip up a delicious new treat called Legacy of Spies, an eight-part series that’s taking a swing at the legendary stories of John le Carré, the man who practically wrote the book on spy novels (literally!). This guy, a former intelligence officer himself, is like the fine wine of spy storytelling, aging beautifully in the postwar literary world. The series will take us on a wild ride with George Smiley, le Carré’s most beloved character who has graced half a dozen novels and made cheeky appearances in several others.

Bringing Smiley to the Small Screen

Now, here’s a fun fact: despite the amount of ink spilled over Smiley, he hasn’t made it to the screen all that much. Rupert Davies portrayed him in a tiny role for the 1965 flick The Spy Who Came In From the Cold. And if you thought that was it, think again! Alec Guinness, the Jedi master himself, took a crack at him during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s in some popular BBC adaptations. Then there’s Gary Oldman, who got an Oscar nod for his role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy—I mean, if that doesn’t scream ‘star power,’ what does?

Who’s the New Smiley in Town?

Fast forward to now, and we’ve got Matthew Macfadyen stepping into Smiley’s polished shoes! You might know this guy as the sneaky Tom Wambsgans from HBO’s Succession, but he’s been around the block, acting as everyone from Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice to a grim assassin on Netflix’s Death By Lightning. Talk about versatility! Plus, he’s got some spy experience under his belt from leading the first two seasons of the BBC’s Spooks (known as MI-5 across the pond).

What’s Cooking in Legacy of Spies?

Now, Legacy of Spies isn’t just a stroll through Smiley’s life; it’s also adapting The Spy Who Came in From the Cold while adding in some tasty nuggets from le Carré’s 2017 book, A Legacy of Spies. This is especially intriguing since The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is kind of like le Carré’s crown jewel. But don’t get too cozy—this story mainly follows a character named Alec Leamas, and Smiley’s role is more like a cameo. Still, the show promises a tantalizing peek into the game of cat and mouse involving the elusive Russian spymaster known as Karla. What a plot twist, right?

Cast of Characters

And it doesn’t stop with Macfadyen! Sons of Anarchy heartthrob Charlie Hunnam will be taking on Leamas, while the ever-charismatic Daniel Brühl will be sneaking around as the East German spy Jens Fielder, and Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu is set to bring us a dose of intrigue as Doris Quinz, aka Agent Tulip. You might wonder why Karla isn’t getting a bit of screen time—well, hold your horses! This elusive character hardly makes an appearance in the books. But let’s be real; if they don’t let us meet him on the small screen, what’s the point of the cat-and-mouse drama?

Time to Get Spy-ing!

So, mark your calendars because production for Legacy of Spies is set to kick off in 2026. Get ready for some espionage shenanigans!