Production is now underway in Prague on Legacy of Spies, a high-profile television adaptation drawing on the work of John le Carré, with filming in the Czech capital confirmed.
Crews for Legacy of Spies have been filming in the Žižkov neighborhood over the past several days, marking Prague as a key production base for the series. The eight-episode drama is produced by The Ink Factory and distributed by Fifth Season, with commissioning partners including the BBC and MGM+.
The series brings together an international cast led by Matthew Macfadyen as George Smiley, alongside Charlie Hunnam, Daniel Brühl, and Devrim Lingnau (The Empress). It draws on multiple works by le Carré, including the classic The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and his more recent A Legacy of Spies, combining established material with previously unpublished elements.
Prague shoot for Legacy of Spies
Recent production on Legacy of Spies has taken place at Dům Radost, a landmark functionalist building in Prague’s Žižkov district. Production activity has been concentrated in and around the building, with nearby streets, including Winston Churchill Square and areas in front of the Prague University of Economics and Business, reserved for production vehicles and technical equipment.
Built between 1932 and 1934 for the General Pension Institute, Dům Radost was Prague’s first high-rise and has been a protected cultural monument since 1968. Known for its functionalist design, high-quality materials and emphasis on natural light, the building offers a flexible interior space that can accommodate a range of filming needs.
Filming for Legacy of Spies in Prague is set to continue into April, with additional location shoots planned in the city center. Production is expected to move to Old Town areas near the National Theatre in mid-April, as well as to Malá Strana, including in the vicinity of Kampa Park.
The project has been registered with the Czech Audiovisual Fund, with Prague-based Sirena Film providing local production services.
High-profile adaptation builds on le Carré legacy
Legacy of Spies is positioned as one of the most ambitious adaptations of John le Carré’s work to date, combining multiple novels into a single serialized narrative centered on George Smiley, one of the author’s most enduring characters.
The project originated at The Ink Factory, the production company founded by le Carré’s sons, Stephen and Simon Cornwell, which has been behind several previous screen adaptations of his work. These include the acclaimed series The Night Manager and The Little Drummer Girl, as well as the feature film A Most Wanted Man. The new series is written by Stephen Cornwell and Clarissa Ingram, with Graham Yost (Justified, Silo, Slow Horses) attached as an executive producer.
According to earlier industry reports, the series was pitched to buyers in the United States and United Kingdom before securing distribution with the BBC and MGM+. The first season is expected to focus primarily on The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, one of le Carré’s best-known novels, while incorporating additional material from later works, including his 2017 novel A Legacy of Spies.
The casting of Macfadyen as George Smiley places him among a line of notable actors who have portrayed the character, including Gary Oldman and Alec Guinness. Macfadyen’s recent success in Succession, for which he received multiple major awards, has raised the profile of the project internationally.
He is joined by Hunnam as British intelligence officer Alec Leamas and Brühl as East German agent Jens Fielder. Brühl, known for roles in Inglourious Basterds, Rush, and Captain America: Civil War, has recently been seen in Prague, including a visit to Edison Filmhub.
Hunnam, known for roles in Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim, and The Gentlemen, has also recently been spotted on the streets of the Czech capital by local fans.
With its combination of established source material, high-profile cast, and international backing, Legacy of Spies adds to a growing list of major television productions choosing Prague as a filming location. The city’s ability to stand in for multiple European settings, combined with experienced crews and established infrastructure, continues to attract large-scale projects, particularly those set in the Cold War period.
Legacy of Spies is also the latest in a series of major projects filming in Prague this year, which also includes Martin Scorsese‘s What Happens at Night, the fourth season of Apple TV+’s Foundation, and Netflix’s new Kennedy mini-series, all of which are currently shooting. Production on The Secret of Secrets, based on Dan Brown’s latest Robert Langdon novel, is expected to begin in the Czech capital later this year.
Lead photo: Matthew Macfadyen, Charlie Hunnam, and Daniel Brühl courtesy DepositPhotos.com. Montage: The Prague Reporter
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Eagerly awaiting this series 😍