Russell Crowe hands Russian state secrets to Harry Lawtey in the first-look image from upcoming Cold War espionage thriller “Billion Dollar Spy.”
The film, also starring Tony Goldwyn, Rufus Sewell and Justin Theroux and now in production in Hungary, is directed by BAFTA-winner Amma Asante (“Belle,” “A Way of Life”) and comes from Walden Media and Weed Road Pictures.
“Billion Dollar Spy” is based on the story of Adolf Tolkachev, who was among the CIA’s most invaluable assets during the Cold War. Disillusioned with the Soviet regime, Tolkachev risked his life to pass thousands of pages of top-secret intelligence to the U.S. A portrait of Tolkachev, with spy camera in hand, still hangs in the CIA’s Langley, Va., headquarters; it’s the only portrait of a non-American there.
Adapted from the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David E. Hoffman by Ben August (“Class Rank,” “Remember”) and Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan (“Traffic,” “Syriana,” “Rules of Engagement”), ”Billion Dollar Spy” sees Crowe star as Tolkachev with Lawtey playing his CIA handler inside Moscow Station, eager recruit Tom Lenihan. As previously announced, Vera Farmiga will play Tolkachev’s wife, Natasha, and Willa Fitzgerald will play Mae Lenihan.
Frank Smith, Benjamin Tappan and Cher Hawrysh of Walden Media are producing alongside Akiva Goldsman and Greg Lessans of Weed Road Pictures. Jane Hooks serves as an executive producer. Pioneer Stillking Films’ Ildiko Kemeny, David Minkowski and Ferenc Szále will serve as co-producers. Naia Cucukov is an executive producer. Hanway Films is handling international sales, and CAA Media Finance is handling domestic rights.
