Tom Wambsgans, international spy? If the latest John le Carré adaptation hoping to make it to the small screen has its way, we’d be nearly halfway there. That’s right, Succession star (and many people’s favorite Darcy) Matthew Macfadyen is attached to star in the latest mysterious spy thriller story writ large by the prolific and beloved le Carré. Legacy of Spies, based on the author’s series of George Smiley-fronted novels, is said to be the latest project from independent production studio The Ink Factory.
According to a report from TheWrap, Macfadyen will play the iconic George Smiley in a series that will ultimately be executive produced by the highly-regarded writer and executive producer Graham Yost. (You may know his other show, Silo? How about Justified? What about the i-con-ic movie he wrote, Speed? Yeah.) With several scripts already ready to go, it seems as though The Ink Factory is excited to get this series green lit for a network or streamer. And it makes sense: John le Carré’s work (and George Smiley in particular) has a long history of success on screens big and small. With a team like this already amassed, it feels safe to bet on this one getting made.
And if you think you don’t know John le Carré’s work, or even who George Smiley is — think again. You may be surprised to learn how many of our favorite spy stories are actually adaptations of the author. Want to know more? Keep reading below! (We’ll also have more details about this production in particular if that’s at all tempting for you.)
John le Carré On-Screen Adaptations: From ‘The Night Manager’ To ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’
Author John le Carré’s novels are known and loved for their moral ambiguity and twisty, turn-y, bombastic plots and set pieces. And probably because of how realistic they feel — no doubt thanks at least in part to the author’s own time working in intelligence, even rising up the ranks of MI6. His life in espionage fueled many of his acclaimed and beloved works, many of which have been turned into films, television shows, and miniseries.
Novels like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, The Constant Gardener, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (which was both a 1979 miniseries and a 2011 movie starring Gary Oldman), The Night Manager, The Looking Glass War, The Little Drummer Girl, A Perfect Spy, The Russia House, A Murder of Quality, The Tailor of Panama, A Most Wanted Man, Our Kind of Traitor, and The Pigeon Tunnel all became adapted for screens big and small.
Legacy of Spies will reportedly take its inspiration from some new places, though, too. Not only will all of le Carré’s Smiley novel plot lines and stories be on the table, so will some of the author’s unpublished work — no doubt an exciting thing to hear if you’re a fan of the author’s work.
Macfadyen will join a relatively impressive group of actors who have portrayed Smiley onscreen — if the series gets green lit, of course. Alec Guinness portrayed the character in the BBC’s 1979 miniseries adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Rupert Davies played him in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold in 1965, and finally Gary Oldman in 2011’s big-screen take on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. At this rate, Smiley’s on track to become a legacy character of an almost James Bond-ian order. Which take will be your favorite?
TheWrap
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2025-03-16 01:37