Matthew Macfadyen Cast as George Smiley in Major BBC Spy Series ‘Legacy of Spies’
Emmy Winner Takes on Iconic Spy Role
Matthew Macfadyen will play George Smiley in the eight-part John Le Carré series Legacy of Spies, joining Charlie Hunnam and Daniel Brühl in the new production for BBC and MGM+. The announcement marks a significant development for the acclaimed British actor, best known for his Emmy-winning performance in HBO’s Succession. This role represents one of the most prestigious characters in espionage fiction, previously portrayed by legends including Gary Oldman and Alec Guinness.
A Prestigious Cold War Adaptation
Written by Stephen Cornwell with Clarissa Ingram, Legacy of Spies adapts the author’s best-selling novel The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and will also draw on additional material from A Legacy of Spies, with the eight-part drama anchored by two-time Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning Macfadyen as master-spy George Smiley. The series arrives as a sweeping new take on le Carré’s Cold War universe, set across the UK, East and West Germany, and Czechoslovakia.
The eight-part ‘Legacy of Spies’ will follow Macfadyen as George Smiley and his overarching quest for his nemesis, Russian master-spy Karla, through the Cold War. The production brings together a stellar ensemble cast, including Charlie Hunnam as British intelligence officer Alec Leamas and Daniel Brühl as East German spy Jens Fielder.
Recent Success and Future Projects
Macfadyen’s casting follows a remarkable period of success. From 2018 to 2023, he starred as Tom Wambsgans in the HBO series Succession, for which he received Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022 and 2023 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. More recently, he starred as Charles J. Guiteau in the 2025 Netflix miniseries Death by Lightning, and in 2024, he played Mr. Paradox in the superhero film Deadpool & Wolverine.
Production on the series is slated to begin in 2026, with the show set to air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK and MGM+ in the United States. The project has garnered significant attention in the industry, particularly as espionage dramas continue to thrive following the success of series like Apple TV’s Slow Horses.
Significance for British Television
The ‘Legacy of Spies’ represents a major investment in prestige drama for British television, bringing one of literature’s most beloved spy characters back to screens. For viewers and fans of espionage fiction, Macfadyen’s portrayal of George Smiley promises to offer a fresh interpretation of the complex spymaster whilst honouring le Carré’s literary legacy. With Graham Yost, known for his work on acclaimed series including Slow Horses and Silo, serving as executive producer, the series is positioned to be one of the most anticipated television events of the coming years.