British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed to the Sunday Times Magazine that he’ll be joining Tomas Alfredson’s upcoming adaptation of John Le Carré’s “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.”
The actor is slated to play Peter Guillam, a protégé of protagonist George Smiley, a British Intelligence operative (to be portrayed by Gary Oldman) whose task is to delve into the world of Cold War espionage and root out a Soviet mole in the Circus, the highest echelon in the British Intelligence Services. The Peter Morgan-scripted adaptation also features the likes of Colin Firth, Michael Fassbender and Ralph Fiennes in roles for what is shaping up to be a very promising Cold War-set spy thriller in a currently ‘Bond’-less cinematic environment.
While relatively unknown to global audiences, Cumberbatch has been a staple on British television for years and most recently starred at the titular character in the BBC’s contemporary adaptation of ‘Sherlock Holmes.’ He has also featured in Joe Wright’s “Atonement” and has a upcoming a role in the Steven Spielberg currently lensing “War Horse.”
Speaking about the part, Cumberbatch says, “’War Horse’ is a thrill, and an incredible CV filler, and Spielberg is amazing…but to me this is….such a grown-up role.”
Shooting on ‘Tinker, Tailor’ is set to begin this October in London. (*Hat tip to Playlist reader SJVP)