Geez, that was quick. Swedish director Tomas Alfredson, who amazed the world with last year's Let the Right One In, will make his English language debut adapting the John Le Carré novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Oscar-nominated screenwriter Peter Morgan is currently writing the adaptation, which tells the story of a retired British intelligence officer who is asked to seek out one the senior ranks of his old agency said to be a Russian spy. Alfredson had kind words to say about the upcoming project stating that, “It is both satisfactory and uplifting to make my debut in the English language in the good company of Peter Morgan and Tim Bevan.”
I actually thought "Let the Right One In" already had a bit of a John LeCarré vibe, with its slow tempo, early eighties setting and snowswept empty streets. These novels are as much mood pieces as they are thrillers, and not as action-centered as the Bourne and Bond stories. They also rely on a certain dry wit throughout.
So I can totally see Tomas Alfredson as being the right director for this material...
For some reason I can only think of what William Friedkin once told a young writer who was so bold to ask "Why do your films kinda suck these days?"
His answer was "I came to Hollywood".
i know lots of english debuts are terrible terrible terrible, but still I do not doubt this one.