Damien Lewis and Guy Pearce drama, A Spy Among Friends, to film in Romania

BritBox UK and Spectrum's six-part drama, A Spy Among Friends, starring Damien Lewis and Guy Pearce, is set to shoot scenes in Romania.

Filming started this week in London on the series, which is based on Ben Macintyre's best-selling novel about the defection of notorious British intelligence officer and KGB double agent, Kim Philby, played by Mare of Easttown’s Pearce, through the lens of his complex relationship with MI6 colleague and close friend, Nicholas Elliott (Lewis). The show examines espionage through their friendship.

ITV Studios, Veritas Entertainment Group and Sony Pictures Television are producing the drama, with BAFTA-winner Nicky Murphy attached to direct.

Executive producers are series creator Alexander Cary, ITV Studios’ Patrick Spence and Lewis through his company Ginger Biscuit Entertainment.   

Describing the series Cary said: “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 the dangerous game against Russia that we're still trying to win today.”

He adds, “Macintyre’s books about spies from recent history are relevant and exciting because they examine the larger universal themes of human behavior that drive individuals among us, and like us, to excel in the murky world of espionage and, for better or worse, leave a lasting impact on the world.”

Spy Among Friends is set to premiere exclusively on BritBox UK and Spectrum in 2022.