Oscar-nominated actress Vera Farmiga is set to join Walden Media’s Cold War thriller Billion Dollar Spy, alongside Russell Crowe and Harry Lawtey. Production is about to commence.
Based on the acclaimed book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David E. Hoffman, Billion Dollar Spy tells the true story of Adolf Tolkachev (played by Crowe), who risked everything to provide the U.S. with thousands of pages of top-secret Soviet intelligence. Despite facing repeated rejections from a cautious CIA, Tolkachev's determination exemplified the courage needed to stand against a regime that betrayed its own citizens.
Eventually, he finds an ally in CIA agent Tom Lenihan (Lawtey), allowing Tolkachev to shift the balance of power and demonstrate that true patriotism involves challenging a government when it strays from its core values. Farmiga will portray Natasha, Tolkachev’s wife.
The film is directed by BAFTA winner Amma Asante, with Oscar-winning writer Stephen Gaghan (known for Traffic and Syriana) revising the script originally penned by Ben August. The project is produced by Walden Media and Weed Road Pictures.
Producers include Frank Smith, Benjamin Tappan, and Cher Hawrysh from Walden Media, alongside Akiva Goldsman and Greg Lessans from Weed Road. Jane Hooks and Naia Cucukov are executive producers, while Ildiko Kemeny, David Minkowski, and Ferenc Szále from Pioneer Stillking Films will serve as co-producers. Hanway Films is managing international sales, with CAA Media Finance handling domestic rights.
Farmiga received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2010 for her role in Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air. She gained prominence with her lead role in Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning film The Departed and is well-known for portraying paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren in New Line’s The Conjuring franchise, which has grossed over $2.25 billion worldwide. She will reprise her role in the upcoming The Conjuring: Last Rites, set for release on September 5. Additionally, she stars in The Leader, a film about the Heaven’s Gate cult, alongside Michael C. Hall and Tim Blake Nelson.
