Legacy of Spies: BBC and MGM+ Begin Filming John le Carré Adaptation

Production has officially begun on Legacy of Spies, a new television series based on the works of John le Carré. The project is a joint venture between the BBC in the United Kingdom and MGM+ in the United States, bringing the Cold War espionage world of spymaster George Smiley to the screen.

According to reporting from Variety on April 13, 2026, the production has expanded its cast to include Dan Stevens, Felix Kammerer and Agnes O’Casey. These additions join a previously announced ensemble led by Matthew Macfadyen, who portrays George Smiley.

Cast and Character Details

The series features a high-profile cast playing central figures in the clandestine intelligence struggle. Charlie Hunnam has been cast as British intelligence officer Alec Leamas, while Daniel Brühl portrays the East German spy Jens Fielder. Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu joins the cast as Doris Quinz, also known as Agent Tulip.

The production is led by Matthew Macfadyen in the role of the legendary spymaster George Smiley. The addition of Stevens, Kammerer, and O’Casey further rounds out the cast as the series enters its filming phase.

Literary Adaptation and Scope

The first season of the eight-episode series is designed as a complex adaptation. It will primarily adapt le Carré’s global bestseller The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, while also incorporating material from his 2017 novel A Legacy of Spies.

The screenplay is being penned by Stephen Cornwell and Clarissa Ingram. The narrative is set to span multiple international locations, including the United Kingdom and the territories that existed during the story’s time period: Czechoslovakia and both East and West Germany.

Production and Executive Leadership

The Ink Factory, which holds the rights to le Carré’s literary body of work, is producing the series in co-production with Amusement Park Film. The project is also associated with Paramount Television Studios and 127 Wall Productions, with Fifth Season handling global distribution and sales.

The executive production team is extensive, including:

• Stephen Cornwell, Graham Yost, and Simon Cornwell
• Michele Wolkoff, Malte Grunert, Chris Rice, and Steve Clark-Hall
• Matthew Macfadyen, Charlie Hunnam, Joe Tsai, and Arthur Wang
• Susanne Bier and Mike Lesslie (first season)
• Gaynor Holmes and Nick Lambon (BBC)
• Nick Cornwell (John le Carré estate)

Strategic Partnership

The series represents a strategic effort by MGM+ to focus on classic storytelling for contemporary audiences. Michael Wright, the global head of MGM+, described the project as a dream project and noted that the series embodies the network’s goal of bringing high-quality, classic narratives to its viewers.

The project was first reported to be on the marketplace in March 2025 before the official pickup by the BBC and MGM+ was announced on December 2, 2025. Following that announcement, production was slated to begin in early 2026, a timeline that has now culminated in the current filming phase.