By: Katcy Stephan
April 30, 2025
Principal photography has begun on Walden Media and Weed Road Pictures’ new thriller “Billion Dollar Spy,” which is led by Oscar-winner Russell Crowe and “Industry’s” Harry Lawtey, and directed by BAFTA winner Amma Asante (“Belle,” “A Way of Life”). Now shooting in Budapest, the Cold War thriller, based on the true story of Soviet spy Adolf Tolkachev, stars Crowe as Tolkachev with Lawtey playing his CIA handler inside Moscow Station, eager recruit Tom Lenihan. As previously announced, Vera Farmiga will play Tolkachev’s wife Natasha, and Willa Fitzgerald will play Mae Lenihan.
Joining star-studded cast of the film are Tony Goldwyn (“Oppenheimer,” “Law & Order”) as CIA case officer Burton Gerber, Rufus Sewell (“The Diplomat,” “The Man in the High Castle”) as CIA Moscow Bureau Chief Gus Hathaway and Justin Theroux (“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “White House Plumbers”) as CIA case officer Van Spencer. Additionally, Tennyson Crowe joins as Sasha Tolkachev, Adolf’s son.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author David E. Hoffman’s book was adapted for the screen by Ben August (“Class Rank,” “Remember”) and Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan (“Traffic,” “Syriana,” “Rules of Engagement”).
Adolf Tolkachev was among the CIA’s most invaluable assets during the Cold War. Disillusioned with the Soviet regime, Tolkachev risked his life to pass thousands of pages of top-secret intelligence to the United States. A portrait of Tolkachev, with spy camera in hand, still hangs in the CIA’s Langley, Va. headquarters (the only non-American portrait there).
Frank Smith, Benjamin Tappan and Cher Hawrysh of Walden Media are producing alongside Akiva Goldsman and Greg Lessans of Weed Road Pictures. Jane Hooks and Naia Cucukov are executive producers. Pioneer Stillking Films’ Ildiko Kemeny, David Minkowski, and Ferenc Szále will serve as co-producers. Hanway Films is handling international sales, and CAA Media Finance is handling domestic rights.
“Bringing ‘Billion Dollar Spy’ to life demands more than just great filmmaking — it requires a cast that can embody the emotional intensity and quiet heroism of these real people,” said Frank Smith, President and CEO of Walden Media. “Under Amma’s direction, we’re confident this cast of extraordinary actors will deliver performances that do justice to David Hoffman’s riveting book and to Tolkachev’s remarkable act of courage.”
“We are thrilled that such an exciting project with an amazing team behind it is finally in production and look forward to sharing more news with buyers in Cannes,” said HanWay films CEO Gabrielle Stewart.
Goldwyn is represented by CAA, Untitled and Schreck Rose. Sewell is represented by CAA, Julian Belfrage Associates and Jackoway Austin. Theroux is represented by CAA, Lighthouse Management & Media and Felker Toczek. Tennyson Crowe is represented by George Freeman at Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
August is repped by Gersh, Kaplan-Perrone, and attorney Rob Szymanski.