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BBC to adapt a second John le Carre novel
The BBC is set to adapt another John le Carre novel, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, after its success with The Night Manager, which scooped awards at the Golden Globes last week.
Simon Beaufoy, who won an Oscar for his "Slumdog Millionaire" film script, is lined up to adapt the book, which was written in 1963.
It is set just after the building of the Berlin Wall in 1962 during the Cold War and follows heavy-drinking British Intelligence officer Alec Leamas. His agent network is in tatters - either on the run or dead – after becoming victims of the East German counter-intelligence officer Hans-Dieter Mundt. Leamas is recalled to London where he is offered a chance at revenge.
The series will be another co-production with US network AMC, following their joint effort on "The Night Manager", which starred John le Carre, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman.
Beaufoy said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be working on the best cold war spy story ever written.”
Meanwhile le Carre said he was also “very excited” by the show, which will air on BBC1 and added that he had “great confidence in the team”.
The show will be produced by The Ink Factory, the production company behind "The Night Manager", in association with Character 7.
Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama, said: "Following the huge global success of 'The Night Manager', it's a privilege to announce that John le Carre will return to BBC One with one of the best spy thrillers ever written."
