With the success of Gary Oldman‘s new thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in the U.K., StudioCanal, the company behind the film, is expected to make a franchise focused on the movie’s character, George Smiley. The character, who is played by Oldman, has appeared in five of author John le Carre‘s novels, beginning with 1961’s Call of the Dead.
Indiewire is reporting that Tomas Alfredson, who directed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and StudioCanal are expected to make an announcement regarding a follow-up film later this week in Paris. The movie franchise will reportedly see the conclusion of the Karla Trilogy, which starts with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and focuses on Smiley’s pursuit of his Soviet nemesis.
If a Smiley film trilogy is green-lit, Oldman has said:
I would insist on quite a few factors, such as I would really want (Tomas) Alfredson to direct it again.
The actor has also said that there may only be one sequel, and StudioCanal would combine Schoolboy and Smiley’s People together. He elaborated:
I would think they may put those two together. I don’t think they would make The Honourable Schoolboy on its own. My guess would be that it would be a composite, and amalgamation of the two, and they would call it Smiley’s People.
Given the world’s love of film franchises and the success Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has seen at the British box office so far, it seems likely StudioCanal will want to continue with the series. But the studio should make the movie series a trilogy, as combining two novels in one sequel would likely result in the loss of too much information, don’t you agree?