On the back of the global success of the BBC hit series The Night Manager, the team behind the Le Carré adaptation are returning once again to another of the author’s popular spy classics.
Source: Amazon
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is being adapted into a new BBC drama as another co-production with US network AMC, in a similar fashion to the adaptation of John Le Carré’s novel The Night Manager that aired between February and March last year, and starred Tom Hiddleston. A new addition to the team will include Simon Beaufoy, best known for his screenplay of the movie Slumdog Millionaire, who has been selected to adapt the book for television.
This next novel to be given the spotlight, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, focuses on similar themes of espionage, passion, and betrayal. It follows the story of Alex Leamas, an intelligence officer in the midst of the Cold War, working to gather intelligence in East Berlin. Written in 1963, the book illustrates Leamus’ chance at revenge, following the deaths and disappearances of his fellow agents, most likely due to the pursuit of East German counter-intelligence groups.
But as with The Night Manager‘s lead Jonathon Pine, this is very much a human story, with love and human conflicts soon infiltrating Leamus’ professionalism. As described in the Sunday Times, the novel is a perfect example of Le Carré’s ability to “communicate emotion, from sweating fear to despairing love, with terse and compassionate conviction.”
Upon publication, the book was critically acclaimed, and soon became a classic of the genre along with Le Carré’s other bestseller, Tinker, Tailor Soldier Spy, which was also given a popular film adaptation in 2011. Le Carré, now aged 85, announced his support for the new adaptation of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: “I’m very excited by the project, and have great confidence in the team.”
Source: YouTube
With a strong production team in place and the support of the author behind them, the adaptation is expected to be a great success. Described by the controller of BBC Drama, Peter Wenger, as “one of the best spy thrillers ever written,” the source material provides an opportunity for another gripping series based on a Le Carré novel.
As with The Night Manager, the new show will be broadcast on BBC1 in the UK, and AMC in the US. A release date and casting details are yet to be announced.
YouTube Channel: Series Trailer MP
Featured image via The National
h/t The Guardian
