Matthew Macfadyen is set to star in the adaptation of John le Carré's series, A Legacy of Spies.

      A new adaptation of the works of renowned spy novelist John le Carré is in development, with Matthew Macfadyen stepping into the role of le Carré's legendary George Smiley for A Legacy of Spies, which is the final Smiley novel penned by the author before his death in 2020.

      George Smiley is le Carré's most prominent character, appearing in numerous novels. As a member of MI6, known as The Circus in le Carré's stories, Smiley was a highly intelligent figure tasked with identifying Soviet spies and agents, often turning them into double agents. He first appeared in Call for the Dead and later took supporting roles in The Spy Who Came in From The Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, the latter being the first book in a trilogy referred to as The Quest for Karla. Previous portrayals of Smiley have been done by Rupert Davies, Alec Guinness, and Gary Oldman.

      A Legacy of Spies continues the narrative from A Spy Who Came in From The Cold as well as the Karla trilogy, delving into the repercussions of Smiley and his protégé Peter Guillam’s activities during the Cold War. The book, which we reviewed here, was published in 2017 and marked le Carré's first Smiley novel in 25 years. The book's synopsis states:

      Peter Guillam, a loyal colleague and student of George Smiley from the British Secret Service, commonly known as the Circus, is spending his retirement on his family farm in southern Brittany when he receives a letter from his former agency calling him back to London. The cause? His past during the Cold War has resurfaced. Intelligence operations that were once celebrated in secretive London, involving figures such as Alec Leamas, Jim Prideaux, George Smiley, and Peter Guillam himself, are now facing scrutiny from a generation that knows little about the Cold War and has little patience for its rationalizations.

      Blending the past and present so that each narrative shares its own compelling story, John le Carré has crafted a plot as clever and exhilarating as its predecessors: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. In a tale infused with tension, wit, and moral complexity, le Carré and narrator Peter Guillam present readers with a legacy of memorable characters, both old and new.

      The series will be produced by The Ink Factory, which holds the rights to many of le Carré’s works, having previously adapted The Little Drummer Girl, The Night Manager, and A Most Wanted Man. Additionally, the company is set to create a miniseries adaptation of The Spy Who Came in From The Cold.

      Co-founders of Ink Factory, Stephen Cornwell and Clarissa Ingram, are writing the series, with Graham Yost, creator of Silo, serving as executive producer.

      Macfadyen's recent roles include appearances in Deadpool & Wolverine and HBO's drama Succession. He is also recognized for his performance in the adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice alongside Keira Knightley, which is scheduled for a theatrical re-release this summer to commemorate its 20th anniversary.

      Ricky Church – Follow me on Bluesky for additional movie news and discussions on nerd culture.