Legacy of Spies series from BBC adds Black Doves star as filming begins on George Smiley drama

Following the announcement that a new series based on John le Carré's novels, Legacy of Spies, was in the works for the BBC, it has now been confirmed that production has begun, as new cast members have joined the show.

As was previously revealed, the eight-part series, produced by The Ink Factory will be adapted from le Carré’s bestseller The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and draw on material from his 2017 novel A Legacy of Spies.

It will star Matthew Macfadyen as spymaster George Smiley, while Charlie Hunnam will play Alec Leamas, Daniel Brühl will play Josef Fiedler and Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu will play Doris Quinz.

Now, a host of new cast members have also joined the series, including Black Doves star Agnes O'Casey, who will play Liz Gold, an idealistic young woman at the heart of the story. O’Casey previously played the same role in a recent stage adaptation.

Other cast members joining the series include Felix Kammerer (Frankenstein) as Stasi enforcer Hans-Dieter Mundt, Dan Stevens (Zero Day) as Circus insider Bill Haydon, Jake Dunn (What It Feels Like for a Girl) as Smiley’s trusted lieutenant Peter Guillam and Safia Oakley-Green (The Bluff) as new intelligence officer Molly Gibson.

Ariyon Bakare (Mr Loverman) will play US intelligence officer Cy Aflon, Saskia Rosendahl (Fabian - Going to the Dogs) will play Doris's sister Lotte Gamp, Patrick Güldenberg (Die Ibiza Affäre) will play Dr Karl Riemeck, and Volker Bruch (Babylon Berlin) will play Stasi official Emmanuel Rapp.

The synopsis for the new series, which is show run and written by Stephen Cornwell (Message from the King) and Clarissa Ingram, says: "When Alec Leamas (Hunnam), a highly experienced Circus field operative, recruits Doris Quinz (Islamoğlu), a young and dynamic East German woman, to smuggle high-value Stasi documents into the West, it sets in motion a series of events that threaten to explode in the crucible of Cold War Berlin.

"Pursuing Leamas and Doris are Josef Fiedler (Brühl) and Hans-Dieter Mundt (Kammerer), two Stasi operatives whose ferocious desire to shut down the intelligence leak is matched only by their internal rivalry and an iron will to outmatch each other.

"Pulled into the action is Liz Gold (O’Casey), an idealistic young woman whose courage and conviction force Leamas to navigate a world where loyalties fracture and betrayal is inevitable.

"Behind the scenes, the brilliant and taciturn spymaster George Smiley (Macfadyen) orchestrates operations while the elusive Soviet mastermind Karla looms in the shadows, setting the stage for a conflict that will define a generation. Personal lives become collateral in a ruthless intelligence war, and as the lines between duty and love begin to blur, every emotion becomes a weapon."

Macfadyen added in a statement: "This is a timeless, and very timely, story about espionage, power, and morality. I am hugely thrilled and not a little daunted to be playing George Smiley - this quiet, intelligent and deeply private man. And delighted to be stepping into le Carré’s world in the company of such talented actors and producers."

Meanwhile, O’Casey explained: "Liz Gold has a singular ability to see right to the core of people, cutting through any sense of cynicism. Stepping into the shoes of a figure so self-assured and with such an enthusiasm for the world has been transformative. Liz is a woman who knows herself completely - when she falls in love, it is an all-consuming and undeniable experience. She is a joy to play."

Legacy of Spies will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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