BBC spy thriller based on an “espionage masterpiece” announces exciting new cast additions

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The BBC has revealed more of the impressive cast for its upcoming spy thriller, Legacy of Spies. The series is based on both the classic 1963 novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and John le Carré’s 2017 book, A Legacy of Spies. It will air on BBC and MGM+, but a release date hasn’t been set yet.

The new series, Legacy of Spies, centers on George Smiley (played by Matthew Macfadyen), a top intelligence officer, as he seeks out his long-time rival, the Soviet spy Karla.

Alongside Macfadyen, the cast includes Charlie Hunnam as British spy Alec Leamas, Daniel Brühl as East German agent Jens Fielder, and Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu as the enigmatic Doris Quinz, also known as Agent Tulip.

In a recent statement, Succession actor Macfadyen described the story as both classic and relevant, focusing on themes of spying, influence, and what’s right and wrong.

I’m honestly over the moon to be taking on the role of George Smiley – he’s such a fascinating character, so reserved, smart, and keeps everything close to the chest. And I’m really excited to be part of John le Carré’s world, working with such a fantastic group of actors and producers.

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Charlie Hunnam expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying he’s thrilled to work with Matthew Macfadyen and a fantastic cast, and to portray such a memorable character.

Leamas isn’t your typical hero. Years of difficult work have left him jaded and changed him, which is what makes him such an interesting character. John le Carré delved into the emotional cost of being a spy and what happens when work and personal feelings become mixed up.

“It’s the humanity at the heart of this story that makes it so powerful and resonant.”

Okay, so the filming for Legacy of Spies has officially started, and they’ve added some new faces to the cast! I was excited to hear Agnes O’Casey, who was great in Lies We Tell, is joining as Liz Gold. And Felix Kammerer, who I thought was amazing in All Quiet on the Western Front, is going to play Hans-Dieter Mundt. Pretty cool additions, I think!

Dan Stevens, known for his role in The Guest, will play Bill Haydon. Jake Dunn, who appeared in What It Feels Like for a Girl, will portray Peter Guillam, a colleague of Smiley.

Safia Oakley-Green, known for her work in The Bluff, will play Molly Gibson, a key ally to the character Leamas. Ariyon Bakare, famous from His Dark Materials, joins the cast as Cy Aflon, an experienced American intelligence officer.

The cast is rounded out by Saskia Rosendahl, Patrick Güldenberg, and Volker Bruch.

In Legacy of Spies, veteran spy Alec Leamas (Charlie Hunnam) enlists the help of a promising East German woman, Doris Quinz (Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu), to sneak important documents from the Stasi into West Berlin. This action triggers a dangerous chain of events set against the backdrop of the Cold War.

Josef Fiedler (Daniel Brühl) and Hans-Dieter Mundt (Felix Kammerer), both determined Stasi agents, are relentlessly tracking Leamas and Doris. They’re fiercely competitive with each other, each driven to be the one who stops the intelligence leak, and they’ll do whatever it takes to succeed.

Liz Gold, a determined and hopeful young woman played by Agnes O’Casey, becomes involved in the story, challenging Leamas to operate in a treacherous environment filled with broken alliances and inevitable betrayals.

Okay, so basically, this super-skilled, but really quiet, spy boss named George Smiley (played by Matthew Macfadyen) is pulling all the strings from the background. But there’s this other, even more mysterious Soviet guy, Karla, who’s always one step ahead, and it feels like their rivalry is going to be the defining conflict of their time. It’s a really tense setup!

As a huge fan of these kinds of stories, what really gets me about this one is how much everything gets personal. It’s not just about countries and secrets; people’s lives are getting wrecked in this spy game. And it’s fascinating – and heartbreaking – to see how falling for someone complicates things. Suddenly, your feelings aren’t just yours anymore, they become something the other side can use against you. It’s like every emotion is a potential weapon in this war.

Michael Lennox, the lead director and executive producer, expressed his excitement about collaborating with Stephen on this remarkable story. He noted that John le Carré didn’t just create the spy genre, he also revolutionized it with his unique approach.

His work was bold and direct, focusing on the here and now, and showed the very real, serious consequences hidden within the story.

Like its predecessor, Legacy of Spies tells a story of people facing incredibly difficult decisions during a crucial time in history.

As a fan, I’m absolutely thrilled to see this story finally come to life with such an amazing cast! What really gets me is how they’ve made the world feel so real, pressing, and like it’s happening right now – it really connects with what’s going on today.

Legacy of Spies will air on the BBC and MGM+.

The latest issue of Living Legends, a beautiful, full-color 100-page tribute to Sir David Attenborough, is now available! You can find it at newsstands or purchase it online.

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2026-04-13 22:20