Michael Shannon Joins AMC's 'Little Drummer Girl' Adaptation
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Florence Pugh and Alexander Skarsgard also star in the six-part spy miniseries being directed by Park Chan-wook.
Oscar nominee Michael Shannon has joined Florence Pugh and Alexander Skarsgard in the upcoming spy miniseries The Little Drummer Girl,coming from the BBC, AMC and The Ink Factory — the same trio behind AMC hit The Night Manager. Park Chan-wook is set to direct the six-part adaptation of John le Carre's book this year.
Little Drummer Girl sees a brilliant young actress, Charlie (Pugh), strike up an acquaintance with an intriguing stranger while on vacation in Greece, but it rapidly becomes apparent that his intentions are far from romantic. The man is Becker (Skarsgard), an Israeli intelligence officer who entangles her in a complex and high-stakes plot orchestrated by Israeli spymaster Kurtz (Shannon). Set in the late 1970s yet sharply contemporary, Little Drummer Girl weaves a dynamic and exciting story of espionage and international intrigue, of love and betrayal.
"The first time I saw Michael was as one of the genius actors who delivered wonderful performances in Revolutionary Road, and ever since, I've remained his loyal fan," said Chan-wook. "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."
The series will be financed and produced by The Ink Factory in partnership with 127 Wall and co-producers the BBC and AMC. Laura Hastings-Smith (Howards End, Macbeth and Hunger) will produce with Simon and Stephen Cornwell serving as executive producers alongside le Carre, Mona Qureshi for the BBC, Joe Tsai and Arthur Wang for 127 Wall, Wonjo Jeong, and Chan-wook.
"Michael is an actor of the highest caliber, and we are excited to welcome him to the stellar group of talent this project is amassing," said the Cornwell brothers. "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."
Shannon is represented by CAA, Wetzel Entertainment Group and attorney David Krintzman of Morris Yorn. Global sales on The Little Drummer Girl are handled by Endeavor Content/IMG.
