A familiar face from the John le Carré universe is returning for another major spy project. The actor has joined a BBC and MGM+ adaptation that is already in production. The upcoming espionage series is going to be one of the most ambitious and interesting television projects based on le Carré’s work in recent years.
Hugh Laurie cast in Legacy of Spies TV show
Hugh Laurie has officially signed on for Legacy of Spies, a new series from BBC and MGM+. While details about his character remain under wraps, Deadline reports that his role will be revealed at a later date. The casting marks Laurie’s second major adaptation of a John le Carré story after his memorable turn as arms dealer Richard Roper in The Night Manager.
Laurie joins a cast led by Matthew Macfadyen as legendary intelligence chief George Smiley. Other notable names include Dan Stevens as Bill Haydon, Felix Kammerer as Hans-Dieter Mundt and Agnes O’Casey as Liz Gold. The project is being produced by The Ink Factory, the company run by le Carré’s sons Stephen and Simon Cornwell, while Fifth Season is handling international sales.
The new series draws from multiple le Carré works. It draws from the 1963 novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold as well as the 2017 novel A Legacy of Spies. The latter acts as both a prequel and sequel to The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, connecting several key stories from the author’s famous espionage universe.
Laurie remains one of Britain’s most famous actors. Beyond The Night Manager, he is widely known for playing Dr. Gregory House in the hit medical drama House. His recent projects include Tehran and the upcoming Peacock series Dig alongside Amy Poehler. His addition only strengthens what is already one of the most anticipated spy series currently in development.
