John le Carré’s famous world of spies, secrets and betrayal is making a comeback to television with "Legacy of Spies", a new eight-part espionage thriller being produced for the BBC and MGM+. The series brings together two of le Carré’s most important novels: his 1963 Cold War classic "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" and his 2017 novel "A Legacy of Spies".
Filming officially wrapped in September 2026, and first-look images from the series have been released. While the exact premiere date has not yet been announced, the project is already attracting attention because it brings some of le Carré’s best-known characters back to the screen with a new cast.
At its centre is George Smiley, the quiet but highly intelligent British intelligence officer who became one of modern literature’s most famous fictional spies. Matthew Macfadyen plays Smiley, while Charlie Hunnam takes on the role of Alec Leamas, the tired and battle-worn field agent at the centre of the story.
The series is set against the tense world of the Cold War, where British and East German intelligence agencies fight a secret battle in which loyalty is uncertain, and betrayal can have deadly consequences.
A story spanning two eras
One of the most distinctive features of 'Legacy of Spies' is that it combines stories from two books published 54 years apart.
The main storyline comes from "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold", published in 1963. The novel takes place during the early years of the Cold War, after the construction of the Berlin Wall. Alec Leamas, a British intelligence officer and agent-runner, is sent on what appears to be one final mission in East Germany.
Leamas is in a weak position, increasingly frustrated with the dangerous, morally complicated world of espionage. His assignment takes him into a web of double agents and competing intelligence operations. Behind much of the action is George Smiley, who works quietly in the background to shape the operation.
The wider conflict also involves Smiley's mysterious Soviet opponent, Karla, one of the most important figures in le Carré's fictional intelligence universe.
The series also follows the personal cost of this secret war. Liz Gold, played by Agnes O'Casey, becomes connected to Leamas and is drawn into a conflict that she never fully understands. Her presence adds an emotional dimension to a story otherwise dominated by intelligence operations and political calculation.
The second part of the series' story comes from "A Legacy of Spies", published in 2017, decades after the events of the earlier novel.
In that book, Peter Guillam, a former colleague of Smiley, is forced to confront the past. People connected to the victims of Leamas's 1963 mission are seeking answers and accountability from the British intelligence service. Guillam, now older, must revisit decisions that were made during the Cold War and explain what happened.
By bringing these two periods together, the television series can show both sides of the story: the urgency of the original espionage operation and the questions that remain after the Cold War has ended.
A new generation of familiar characters
The cast brings together several major names, with several actors taking on characters previously played by well-known stars.
Matthew Macfadyen plays George Smiley. The character was famously portrayed by Alec Guinness in the BBC adaptations, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Smiley's People". Gary Oldman later played Smiley in the 2011 feature film "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy". James Mason also portrayed the character in an earlier screen adaptation.
Charlie Hunnam plays Alec Leamas, the role made famous by Richard Burton in the 1965 film version of "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold". The new eight-part format gives the character much more room to develop than a traditional feature film.
Daniel Brühl plays Josef, also known as Jens Fiedler, a methodical East German Stasi intelligence strategist. Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu plays Doris Quinz, known as Agent Tulip, an East German woman who provides important intelligence.
Felix Kammerer takes on Hans-Dieter Mundt, a ruthless and feared Stasi operative. The character was previously played by Peter van Eyck in the 1965 film.
Agnes O'Casey plays Liz Gold, the idealistic young woman whose relationship with Leamas brings a deeply personal element to the story. Claire Bloom played the character in the earlier film.
Dan Stevens joins the cast as Bill Haydon, an important figure in the wider George Smiley story. Ian Richardson and Colin Firth played Haydon in the previous adaptations.
Behind the scenes
The series is being written by Stephen Cornwell, John le Carré's son, together with Clarissa Ingram. Cornwell's involvement gives the production a direct connection to the author's literary legacy.
The Ink Factory, which manages le Carré's literary estate, is producing the series alongside Amusement Park Film. The Ink Factory was involved earlier in several screen adaptations of le Carré's work.
Michael Lennox, known for directing "Say Nothing", is the lead director. Claudia Llosa serves as the second director.
Filming took place mainly in the Czech Republic, with additional production in the United Kingdom and Germany, to help recreate the divided Europe of the Cold War and provide an authentic setting for the story.
The most recent adaptation of le Carré’s work was “The Night Manager”, which concluded its second season. The latter returned a decade after the first, marking one of the longest intervals between seasons. It starred Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie, among others.
