The Ipcress File series co-produced by Hilary & Steven Saltzman

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2021-03-10

The Ipcress File Hilary and Steven Saltzman

New spy thriller series The Ipcress File starring Joe Cole as iconic spy Harry Palmer has commenced filming in Liverpool and Croatia. The series is co-produced by FSWL supporters Hilary & Steven Saltzman, children of legendary James Bond producer Harry Saltzman who produced the The Ipcress File film from 1965 starring Michael Caine.

The Ipcress File, a globally renowned Len Deighton novel, is the first in the Harry Palmer series, adapted by Oscar nominated and BAFTA award winning writer John Hodge (originally involved with the screenplay for Bond 25 when Danny Boyle was assigned to direct) into a six part television series produced by Altitude Television for ITV.

Starring Joe Cole (Gangs of London, Peaky Blinders) in the iconic role of Harry Palmer alongside Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody, Murder on the Orient Express) as Jean and BAFTA award winning actor, Tom Hollander (The Night Manager, Birdbox) as Dalby. The drama is directed by Emmy award-winner James Watkins (McMafia, Black Mirror, The Woman In Black).

Director and Executive Producer James Watkins, who is directing each of the six episodes, commented:

“We can’t wait to bring Len Deighton’s intoxicating web of spies - sexier than Smiley’s people, more real than Bond - to a wider television audience. With his sly wit and understated integrity clashing against the establishment, working-class spy Harry Palmer is more relevant than ever.”

Writer and Executive Producer John Hodge, known for his work on Trainspotting, and T2 Trainspotting said:

“This is a wonderful opportunity to inhabit a time when the post war world was morphing into the way we live now, when social mobility, civil rights, and modern feminism were forcing their way into public consciousness, and all of it happening with the world divided in two and both halves threatening to blow the whole thing sky high.”

Joining the cast to play further significant roles are Ashley Thomas (NYPD Blue, Top Boy, Salvation) as Maddox, Joshua James as Chico (Industry, Life, Absentia), Danish-Swedish actor David Dencik (McMafia, Face to Face, Chernobyl, No Time To Die) as Colonel Stok and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Dublin Murders, Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War) as Cathcart.

Exclusive first look at The Ipcress File series courtsey of ITV:

The Ipcress File is an enthralling and atmospheric espionage thriller set in Berlin and London during the 1960’s and the series marks the first major production for Altitude Television, part of the larger Altitude Film Entertainment, the independent British media group behind notable releases such as Amy, Moonlight, Diego Maradona, Calm With Horses, Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans, and Rocks. The series will be produced in association with ITV Studios.

The Ipcress File is executively 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 will be produced by Paul Ritchie (McMafia, Slumdog Millionaire).

ITV Studios are providing significant financing, with other co-financiers comprising of the Liverpool Film Office, Lipsync, Filmgate and the Finnish National and Regional Funds, with Cofiloisirs Bank cashflowing. Reno Antoniades at Lee & Thompson will be handling legal.

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.

ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill has commissioned the series from Altitude and will oversee the drama from the channel’s perspective.

Press articles about The Ipcress Files series with pictures from the production:

>The Ipcress File to film in Liverpool & Croatia (The Knowledge, February 12, 2021)

>The Ipcress File FIRST LOOK: Lucy Boynton oozes glamour as she and suave co-star Joe Cole shoot scenes with a vintage car for new six-part adaptation of the 1960s classic (Daily Mail, February 12, 2021)

>New ITV drama The Ipcress File looks amazing - get the details (Hello Magazine, March 10, 2021)

>The Ipcress File – first-look images of Joe Cole as Harry Palmer (Seenit, March 10, 2021)

>ITV Spy Series ‘The Ipcress File’ Starts Filming in Europe, Unveils First Look at Lucy Boynton, Joe Cole (Variety, March 10, 2021)

Tags: