An exciting spy thriller that is adapting a bestselling set of books could become the perfect rival to Apple TV’s Slow Horses.
Although Apple TV has had a long line of successful shows in recent years, Slow Horses remains one of its biggest and longest-running hits. Even after five seasons, the series is showing no signs of slowing down and has already been renewed for two more installments. Interestingly, though, while waiting for its upcoming seasons, fans of spy thrillers have another show to look forward to.
Like Slow Horses, the new show in question is also based on a bestselling book series and even has the potential to become Slow Horses’ perfect competitor.
Upcoming British Spy Thriller, Legacy Of Spies, Will Be The Perfect Slow Horses Rival
Slow Horses is often hailed for its ability to subvert many spy thriller tropes and presenting a more anti-James Bond narrative. Upcoming crime thriller, Legacy of Spies, which is based on John le Carré’s best-selling novel, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, will adopt a similar approach.
Like Slow Horses, Legacy of Spies has Graham Yost as its executive producer and is all set to explore a world of espionage that is driven more by the dangers of bureaucracy.
As the original le Carré books suggest, Legacy of Spies will be far more serious in tone and less satirical than Slow Horses. However, similar to the Apple TV show, it will not portray spies as glamorous heroes but as tired functionaries trapped by past decisions, professional loyalty, and a system that rewards obedience over conscience.
Owing to its Cold War setting, Legacy of Spies can also be seen as a portrayal of how British Intelligence ended up becoming the way it is in Apple TV’s Slow Horses. This would explain why Slow Horses‘ original author, Mike Herron, has frequently cited John le Carré as his primary influence.
Put simply, if le Carré’s work depicts the “golden age” and subsequent moral decay of British intelligence, Herron’s work is the logical endgame of that growing rot.
Legacy Of Spies Promises To Be As Good As Slow Horses (If Not Better)
Legacy of Spies is being written by Stephen Cornwell and Clarissa Ingram and boasts a stellar cast that includes Matthew Macfadyen, Charlie Hunnam, and Daniel Brühl. Macfadyen’s performance in Succession proves that he has been perfectly cast for the role of the iconic George Smiley in the upcoming adaptation.
Since the series will draw from multiple le Carré novels, including The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and the 2017 novel A Legacy of Spies, it can also be expected to jump back-and-forth between the Cold War grit and modern-day political cynicism. This already makes it sound like an intriguing addition to the crime thrillers genre.
Only time will tell how Legacy of Spies will eventually turn out. However, if executed well, it could become a worthy rival to Apple TV’s Slow Horses.
