Producer Eric Fellner Talks TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Sequel; Says Tomas Alfredson and Screenwriter Peter Straughan are Working on it “As We Speak”

Director Tomas Alfredson’s adaptation of the John le Carre spy novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was a bit of a surprise success last year, grossing over $80 million against a relatively small budget and earning Gary Oldman his first ever Oscar nomination for Best Actor.  Given le Carre’s numerous novels, Alfredson and the folks at Working Title began to mull over the possibility of adapting another one of the books for a sequel, but movement on that front has been relatively quiet as of late.

Steve recently got to interview producer Eric Fellner while attending the press day for Working Title’s upcoming musical adaptation Les Miserables, and Fellner provided a promising update on the sequel to Tinker Tailor.  Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

When word broke that a follow-up to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was being considered, Oldman revealed that they were thinking about developing the novel Smiley’s People as the Tinker Tailor sequel.  The story involves Oldman’s George Smiley being called out of retirement for the last time, so it would provide another great avenue for Oldman to further develop the Smiley character.

Steve asked Fellner about the status of the sequel, and he revealed that work is already underway:

“We are working on another one. [Producer] Tim Bevan is putting it together as we speak with [screenwriter] Peter Straughan and Tomas Alfredson, so yes it’s in development.”

Straughan co-wrote Tinker Tailor alongside Bridget O’Connor, and it appears that the scribe has been brought back to pen the sequel for Alfredson.  Fellner added that while it’s taking some time, everyone is eager to get the follow-up made:

“It did unbelievably well and it didn’t cost hardly anything… But things take time.  Tim is passionate about making sure we do another one.”

Look for Steve’s full interview with Fellner closer to the release of Les Miserables.