Of all the great, classic spy and espionage films or TV shows— Bond, “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,’ the Jack Ryan films and TV shows, the “Kingsman’ series, “Three Days Of The Condor,” and all the classic spy films from the 1960s and ‘70s, etc.—the one that mainstream audiences probably know the least well is “The Ipcress File.”
Based on the globally renowned Len Deighton spy novel of the same name, “The Ipcress File” series starred Michael Caine as Harry Palmer and ended up as a trilogy of films: “The Ipcress File” (1965), “Funeral in Berlin” (1966) and “Billion Dollar Brain” (1967), this of course back in the day when movie studios didn’t really know how to franchise something by including a franchise title to tie the films together (decades later Caine returned to the character in 1995’s “Harry Alan Towers’ Bullet to Beijing” and 96’s “Midnight in Saint Petersburg”). The first two films are spectacular, cinematically stunning, and the less said about the third film the better (despite English auteur Ken Russell directing, it’s a wash).
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Regardless, the point is, “The Ipcress File” series is terrific and someone finally realizes that. Because AMC+ is putting out their TV adaptation of the new espionage thriller later this month. Based on Len Deighton’s novel again, and adapted by Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning screenwriter John Hodge (“Trainspotting,” “T2 Trainspotting”), the enthralling and atmospheric drama stars Joe Cole (“Gangs of London,” “Peaky Blinders”) as iconic British spy Harry Palmeralongside Lucy Boynton (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Murder on the Orient Express”) and BAFTA award-winner Tom Hollander (“Pride & Prejudice,” “The Night Manager,” “Birdbox”).
Here’s the official synopsis
1962. At the height of the Cold War, ex-soldier and convicted thief Harry Palmer (Cole) is recruited to an unorthodox British spy unit whose boss, Dalby (Hollander), wants his help to retrieve a missing scientist. Working alongside cool, ambitious agent Jean (Boynton), Harry’s journey will take him to the wrong side of Berlin, the risky hedonism of Beirut and the blinding light of a Pacific H-bomb test – before one step too many lands him an unwitting role in a violent political conspiracy.
The Ipcress File was Len Deighton’s first spy novel introducing the iconic British spy Harry Palmer and set against the backdrop of Cold War Europe. To date, the novel has sold 10 million copies worldwide since it was first published in 1962.
“The Ipcress File” is executive produced by Will Clarke (“Filth”) and Andy Mayson (“Ghost Stories”) for Altitude Television, Andrew Eaton (“The Crown”) for Turbine, Sandy Lieberson (“Performance”), James Watkins and Hilary and Steven Saltzman. The series is produced by Paul Ritchie (“McMafia,” “Slumdog Millionaire“).
Directed by Emmy winner James Watkins (“Black Mirror,” “The Woman In Black”) and set in Berlin and London during the 1960s, The Ipcress File will make its exclusive U.S. and Canadian premiere on AMC+ Thursday, May 19, with episodes rolling out weekly on Thursdays. Watch the first trailer below.
