Guinness as spy?

Press, 9 May 1978, Page 23

Guinness as spy?

NZPA London The celebrated English actor, Sir Alec Guinness is almost certain to play George Smiley, the shabby but intelligent hero of John Le Carre’s spy novels, in a 8.8. C. television serial, the London “Evening Standard” reports. The newspaper said that the 8.8. C. was “cagily op timistic” that Sir Alec would star in a seven-part serial of “Tinker, Tailor, ■ Soldier, Spy,” which will be a joint 8.8. C.-Par-amount production. i The newspaper under- ■ stands that Le Carre is closely involved with the i production and is working I with the highly-regarded I script writer, Arthur HopI craft on adapting the I novel. i Two of the seven epiI sodes have already been completed, although the series will not be shown until next year. j This will be the first time that Le Carre's novel has been filmed, although Paramount already owns the rights on the character of George Smiley. “We couldn’t go ahead

without them,” said Mr John Stringer, the 8.8.C,’s head of co-production, “but this will be an entirely 8.8. C. production. I expect that if we cast someone famous they will put in more money.” The serial has already been sold to American television.