Well, this might just win the good news award of the day. Everybody’s favMichael Shannonis set to join the cast ofThe HandmaidenandOldboydirectorPark Chan-wook’s television debutThe Little Drummer Girl, based on the best-selling novel of the same name byJohn le Carré. Shannon will play Israeli spymaster Kurtz in the tangled tale of espionage and joins previously announced cast membersFlorence Pugh(Lady Macbeth) and newly minted Golden Globe winnerAlexander Skarsgård(Big Little Lies). The project comes from the Ink Factory, BBC One and AMC that spawned the BAFTA, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winning le Carré seriesThe Night Manager.
The Little Drummer Girlis a 1970s-set spy thriller that stars Pugh as a brilliant young actress Charlie, who strikes up a friendship with a handsome stranger while on holiday in Greece, but soon realizes that his intentions aren’t romantic, they’re professional. The man’s name is Becker (Skarsgård), and he’s an Israeli intelligence officer who entangles Charlie in a complex plot orchestrated by Shannon’s Spymaster.
Shannon is a performer who likes to keep busy. In addition to moonlighting as arguably the world’sbest Iggy Pop cover artist, he’s currently doing double duty in theaters inGuillermo del Toro’s Oscar-nominatedThe Shape of WaterandNicolai Fuglsig’s military drama12 Strong. Next up, he’ll appear in Paramount TV’sWaco, HBO’sFahrenheit 451, andElizabeth Chomko’s Alzheimer’s dramaWhat They Had.
Director Park said of Shannon’s casting in a press release, “The first time I saw Michael was as one of the genius actors who delivered wonderful performances inRevolutionary Road,and ever since I’ve remained his loyal fan. I believe Michael will make the perfect Kurtz, a man scarred by history and carrying burdens all too heavy on his shoulders, an Israeli ‘Captain Ahab’ obsessed by his biggest and most elusive nemesis yet.”
“Michael is an actor of the highest calibre, and we are excited to welcome him to the stellar group of talent this project is amassing," saidSimonandStephen Cornwell, co-CEOs and Founders of The Ink Factory. “Under the direction of a consummate auteur and opposite two equally dynamic actors – we are confident that he will channel the complex combination of tension and gravitas within Kurtz which is shot through the narrative.”
The series will be financed and produced by The Ink Factory in partnership with 127 Wall and co-producers the BBC and AMC. The six-part miniseries adaptation is set for 2018.
