The Aporia · Matthew Macfadyen embodies spymaster George Smiley in preview of Legacy Of Spies

Matthew Macfadyen embodies spymaster George Smiley in preview of Legacy Of Spies

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Feric, C. (2026, September 28). Matthew Macfadyen embodies spymaster George Smiley in preview of Legacy Of Spies. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/matthew-macfadyen-george-smiley-bbc-charlie-hunnam-charlotte-ritchie-b1298766.html

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Quick Summary

Matthew Macfadyen will portray George Smiley in the upcoming eight-part BBC drama series "Legacy Of Spies," adapting John le Carré's novels from 1963 and 2017. The series, set against the backdrop of the Cold War era Berlin Wall, stars Macfadyen alongside Charlie Hunnam as Alec Leamas. Filming has concluded for this highly anticipated show, which will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One but a specific release date is yet to be announced.

Written by AI on 2026-09-28, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Story summary

Matthew Macfadyen will star as George Smiley, an ordinary-looking but brilliant intelligence officer, in the upcoming BBC drama series Legacy Of Spies. The eight-part series is based on John le Carré’s 1963 novel "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" and its 2017 follow-up A Legacy Of Spies, set against the backdrop of the Cold War era, particularly the time after the construction of the Berlin Wall in the 1960s. Macfadyen will portray Smiley, who oversees a mission to trap the deputy director of the East German Intelligence Service. Other actors cast include Daniel Bruhl, Dan Stevens, and Agnes O’Casey. The series is expected to delve into themes of espionage and moral dilemmas faced by intelligence officers during the Cold War.

Written for “Legacy Of Spies Preview” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Who wrote this

Carla Feric

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Claims (12 extracted, 0 hedged)

Matthew Macfadyen embodies spymaster George Smiley in preview of Legacy Of Spies asserted

Macfadyen → embody → Spies

The 51-year-old actor will star as the ordinary-looking but brilliant intelligence officer in upcoming BBC drama Legacy Of Spies, taking over the role of a character who was last portrayed on TV in the 1990s. asserted

who → star → 1990s

The eight-part series has been adapted from le Carré’s 1963 bestseller The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, an espionage novel set against the backdrop of the Cold War, and its 2017 follow-up A Legacy Of Spies. asserted

Who → adapt → Spies

The series is set in the 1960s against the backdrop of the newly erected Berlin Wall with Leamas considering the prospect of retirement or a desk job during the Cold War. asserted

Leamas → set → War

The agent is then tasked with trapping the deputy director of the East German Intelligence Service, with Smiley working on the behind-the-scenes operations of Leamas’ mission. asserted

Smiley → task → mission

A first glimpse sees Macfadyen wearing a simple black suit, with coiffed hair and thick-rimmed glasses, which the beloved spy is known for removing and wiping against his necktie when deep in thought. asserted

spy → see → thought

Macfadyen is no stranger to espionage roles and has previously featured in spy drama Spooks and war film Operation Mincemeat, and seemingly embodies the physically unassuming appearance of Smiley – who is famously known as the antithesis of suave 007 agent James Bond. asserted

who → feature → Bond

Smiley was last portrayed on the big screen by award-winning actor Gary Oldman in 2011 film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. asserted

Smiley → portray → film

Hunnam, 46, is seen sporting a dark, high-collared coat and a navy blue shirt as he takes on the role of the cynical and worn-out veteran intelligence operative who was last played by Richard Burton, in the 1965 film adaptation of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. asserted

Who → see → Cold

The actor, known for Queer As Folk, The Gentlemen and Sons Of Anarchy, is pictured in front of a glowing neon sign while looking solemnly into the distance. Daniel Bruhl, Dan Stevens and Agnes O’Casey will also appear in the series alongside Devrim Lingnau Islamoglu, Jake Dunn, Anjana Vasan and Felix Kammerer. asserted

Bruhl → know → Islamoglu

The series, which has been produced by The Ink Factory and Amusement Park Film, consists of 60-minute-long episodes and will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. asserted

which → produce → iPlayer

Filming recently wrapped for the highly anticipated show, with further details including a release date yet to be announced. asserted

details → film → date

Matthew Macfadyen embodies spymaster George Smiley in preview of Legacy Of Spies

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Claims (12 extracted, 0 hedged)