CHINA Edition
Hungarian Edition
Russell Crowe is seen passing Russian state secrets to Harry Lawtey in the first-look image from the upcoming Cold War espionage thriller Billion Dollar Spy, now in production in Hungary. The film, which also stars Tony Goldwyn, Rufus Sewell, and Justin Theroux, is directed by Amma Asante, BAFTA-winner known for Belle and A Way of Life, and is produced by Walden Media and Weed Road Pictures.
Billion Dollar Spy is based on the true story of Adolf Tolkachev, who became one of the CIA’s most valuable Cold War assets. Disillusioned with the Soviet regime, Tolkachev risked his life to pass thousands of pages of top-secret Soviet intelligence to the United States. A portrait of Tolkachev, holding a spy camera, still hangs in the CIA’s Langley headquarters—the only non-American to receive such an honor.
The film is adapted from David E. Hoffman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Ben August (Class Rank, Remember) and Stephen Gaghan (Traffic, Syriana, Rules of Engagement). Crowe portrays Tolkachev, with Lawtey playing his CIA handler, Tom Lenihan, inside Moscow Station. Vera Farmiga is cast as Tolkachev’s wife, Natasha, while Willa Fitzgerald plays Mae Lenihan.
Production is supported by a team including producers Frank Smith, Benjamin Tappan, and Cher Hawrysh of Walden Media, 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 are co-producers, with Naia Cucukov also on board as an executive producer. Hanway Films is managing international sales, while CAA Media Finance handles domestic rights.
The project highlights Hungary’s continued appeal as a filming destination for international productions, with its well-established infrastructure and experienced crews.
