In an upcoming TV series of the popular novels by John le Carré, Matthew Macfadyen will be George Smiley. The sons of the late author will write the play, Legacy of Spies, which is expected to draw from a number of the books, including The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and The Honourable Schoolboy.
Confirmations from established publications such as Variety and Deadline revealed the casting of the 50-year-old Succession actor. The show will also feature some previously unpublished material by le Carré, whose actual name was David Cornwell. The renowned author, who died in 2020 at the age of 89, used his time in British intelligence in the 1950s and 60s as the basis for the complex world of espionage presented in his novels.
The production will be undertaken by The Ink Factory, a production company founded by le Carré’s sons, Stephen and Simon Cornwell. The pair also produced the hit adaptation of The Night Manager and are already working on two sequel series to that television smash.
Macfadyen, who has become known for his performances as Tom Wambsgans in Succession and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, will be part of an esteemed group of actors to play Smiley. Others include Gary Oldman, Rupert Davies, Alec Guinness, and Denholm Elliott. Smiley is a middle-aged, balding, and stout man with an unassuming presence, who is a wily spymaster working in the British secret service during the Cold War.
In Call for the Dead, the debut Smiley novel, le Carré portrayed him as, “Short, fat, and of a quiet disposition, he appeared to spend a lot of money on really bad clothes, which hung about his squat frame like skin on a shrunken toad.” At 1.91 meters, Macfadyen’s stature may be a challenge to fit into the physical characteristics of the character, but his acting skill is bound to add depth to the role.
Le Carré particularly admired Guinness’s depiction of Smiley, as in the 1979 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and 1982 follow-up Smiley’s People. The novelist once complimented Guinness on “so beautifully bringing Smiley alive and leaving the character whole.” Le Carré also enjoyed Oldman’s “beautiful performance” in the 2011 cinematic adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
But a sequel featuring Oldman was said to have been blocked by the le Carré sons. Oldman’s manager Douglas Urbanski told the Radio Times in September that attempts to get back in touch with le Carré’s sons were rebuffed. “We’ve made contact … with le Carré’s sons and – the blasted thing – they have no interest in Gary playing Smiley again. I don’t know why,” he said.
This option seems to be connected with the upcoming series Legacy of Spies. Variety reports that several US and UK buyers have already shown interest in the event. With Macfadyen bringing a fresh view to the iconic character, this new adaptation will delve deeper into the dark world of espionage that le Carré so masterfully built.
Fans are excited to see how Macfadyen will portray the mysterious spymaster because of his talent and versatility, which make him a suitable option for the part. With The Ink Factory’s support and le Carré’s sons’ participation, the series is set to pay tribute to one of the greatest.