BritBox Australia, as part of a deal with Sony Pictures Television, will be exclusively premiering A Spy Among Friends later this year.
The first-ever adaption of the award-winning novel by Ben Macintyre stars Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award-winning actor Damian Lewis (Homeland, Billions, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Emmy Award-winner Guy Pearce (Jack Irish, Mare of Easttown, The Hurt Locker).
A Spy Among Friends dramatises the true story of betrayal and friendship, set in the secretive world of espionage, marking as one of the most notorious traitor stories in British spy history. Guy Pearce stars as the charming Kim Philby, and Damian Lewis plays his colleague and long time friend, Nicholas Elliott.
The six-episode limited series follows a friendship that resulted in the gutting of British and American intelligence at the height of the Cold War and shaped the field of play for a dangerous game against Russia that still continues today.
Kim Philby is England’s most famous traitor from the Cold War era, who was recruited by Soviet Intelligence to penetrate MI6; something he was able to do undetected for thirty years. Nicholas Elliott was a highly respected intelligence officer who discovered his closest friend of 23 years had been betraying him from the very beginning.
The series was created by Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning British writer Alexander Cary (Homeland, Taken), who is producing alongside BAFTA award-winner Patrick Spence (Adult Material, Fortitude, Peaky Blinders).
Country Manager of BritBox Australia Moira Hogan said: “With its outstanding cast and high quality production, A Spy Among Friends tells the story of close friendship and complete betrayal against the backdrop of the Cold War. This is a fascinating insight into a world of elite British spies and we’re thrilled to bring A Spy Among Friends as a Britbox Original to audiences.”
The all-star cast also includes Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, Line of Duty) and Stephen Kunken (Billions, The Handmaid’s Tale) and Adrian Edmondson (Back to Life, The Pact).
The limited series is directed by BAFTA award-winner Nick Murphy (Save Me, A Christmas Carol) and produced by BAFTA award-winner Chrissy Skinns (Elizabeth is Missing, The Last Kingdom). Bob Bookman, Alan Gasmer, Peter Jaysen are executive producers for Veritas Entertainment Group. Damian Lewis will also serve as executive producer through his production company, Ginger Biscuit Entertainment
