A Spy Among Friends (2022)
Bob Bookman played a key role in the development and production of the acclaimed limited series A Spy Among Friends, a project that emerged from an encounter far from the usual corridors of Hollywood.
Until April 15, 2017, Bob had been an avid squash player for nearly fifty years. That day, however, a ruptured Achilles tendon effectively ended his time on the court. For years, Bob had routinely crossed paths at the club with Alex Cary, unaware that he was a distinguished screenwriter known for his work on Homeland. Bob and Alex’s instructor, Evan Kahn, told him that which entrusted Bob to find out more about him.
Screenwriter Alexander Cary.
Guy Pearce as Kim Philby and Damian Lewis as Nicholas Elliott share the screen in the Paramount+ limited series A Spy Among Friends.
Bob researched Cary’s background and discovered an interesting coincidence: Cary had attended Westminster School, the same British institution once attended by Kim Philby, the notorious Soviet double agent whose betrayal shook British intelligence during the Cold War. Around this time, Bob had been reading A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre, the first major account of Philby’s story, told through the perspective of his close friend and fellow MI6 officer Nicholas Elliott.
Bob reached out to Cary, remarking that although they only knew each other literally in passing, he wondered if Cary might have any interest in Philby’s story. Cary responded at once: he was, in fact, deeply fascinated by the subject. Bob promptly sent him a copy of Macintyre’s book, and within days, Cary called back to say he was beginning work on a speculative pilot script.
British spy Kim Philby, circa 1955.
That initial script evolved into a six-hour limited series, with Cary ultimately writing all six episodes. The series, which streams on MGM+, stars Damian Lewis as Nicholas Elliott and Guy Pearce as Kim Philby, with Anna Maxwell Martin portraying a fictionalized MI6 figure crafted to enhance the dramatic narrative. The production earned a BAFTA nomination and widespread critical praise for its intelligent writing and compelling performances. Bob served as executive producer on the series.
Gershwyn Eustache Jr. and Anna Maxwell Martin as fictional MI6 agent Lily Thomas.