Garrett snaps up TV rights to Corea's inside account of Russian spies

TV rights for BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera’s non-fiction book, Russians Among Us (William Collins), have been scooped by Stephen Garrett, executive producer of “The Night Manager” and forthcoming HBO series “The Undoing”.

Rights were sold before publication to Garrett’s production company, Character Seven. The series will be executive produced by Garrett and Character Seven head of development Michele Wolkoff.

Published on 20th February, Russians Among Us tells the inside story of Putin’s growing espionage campaign in the West, the Russian “deep cover” spies who penetrated the US and the long-running FBI hunt to capture them.

Garrett said: "I’ve always found spy stories to be compelling recipes for a thriller. Spies not only lie for a living, but they have to lie to their nearest and dearest, too. Gordon Corera has unearthed a jaw-dropping tale — and all the more jaw-dropping for being as zeitgeisty as it is true. It’s terrifying and hilarious in equal measure. I could not be more excited to be bringing it to the screen."

Corera added: "I'm overjoyed that someone with Stephen’s track record, particularly for creating landmark shows in this area, has seen the potential of this story, and how timely it is. I can't wait to see how he brings to the screen the remarkable, important—and occasionally deadly—story of Russia's spy war with the West."

Corera’s book is published next month in the US by William Morrow, and in the UK by William Collins. The deal was brokered by Georgina Capel Associates.