Newcastle-born actor Charlie Hunnam has been unveiled in his new role as a battle-weary spy in a major new BBC thriller. The Sons of Anarchy star plays Alec Leamas in Legacy of Spies, an eight-part adaptation of John le Carré's acclaimed Cold War novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
First look at the series
The BBC and MGM+ have released a first glimpse of the highly anticipated series to mark the end of filming, giving fans their first look at Hunnam as the embattled, world-weary agent-runner and field operative.
Hunnam stars opposite two-time Emmy and BAFTA award-winning actor Matthew Macfadyen, who takes on the iconic role of spymaster George Smiley. Macfadyen is no stranger to the world of espionage, having previously played MI5 officer Tom Quinn in the BBC's hit spy drama Spooks.
Plot and cast
The new series sees Hunnam's character Alec Leamas, a highly experienced Circus field operative, recruit Doris Quinz, played by Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu, to smuggle high-value Stasi documents into the West. But the operation sets off a dangerous chain of events against the backdrop of Cold War Berlin.
Leamas and Doris find themselves pursued by Josef Fiedler, played by Daniel Brühl, and Hans-Dieter Mundt, played by Felix Kammerer, two Stasi operatives determined to stop the intelligence leak. The drama also stars Agnes O'Casey as Liz Gold, Dan Stevens as Bill Haydon, Jake Dunn as Peter Guillam, Anjana Vasan as Connie Sachs, Charlotte Ritchie as Ann Smiley, Joe Alwyn as Jim Prideaux and Hugh Laurie as Control.
Adaptation and production
The BBC describes the series as a story in which "loyalties fracture and betrayal is inevitable", with personal lives becoming caught up in a ruthless intelligence war. Legacy of Spies is adapted from le Carré's 1963 novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, while also drawing on material from his 2017 novel A Legacy of Spies.
For Charlie, the role marks another major screen project following his acclaimed performance in Monster. Previously speaking about the show, he said: "I’m so excited to be part of this incredible project, and to be working alongside Matthew Macfadyen and such an exceptional cast, as well as having the opportunity to play such an iconic character. Leamas isn’t a traditional hero. He is worn down by the work, shaped and eroded by it over time, which is what makes him so compelling."
Charlie added: "Le Carré explored the personal toll of a life in espionage and what happens when the line between professional duty and something more personal begins to blur. It’s the humanity at the heart of this story that makes it so powerful and resonant."
Release details
The series was filmed principally in the Czech Republic, with additional location filming taking place in the UK and Germany. Legacy of Spies will launch exclusively on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, with MGM+ broadcasting the series in the United States and several international channels. An exact release date has yet to be announced.
