Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole leaps into action in thrilling first trailer for The Ipcress File

Virgin Radio

25 Jan 2022, 14:28

The spy series will be coming to ITV in March. 

Actor Joe Cole is probably best known for playing John Shelby in Peaky Blinders, but in his latest role, he will be swapping the life of a gangster for that of a spy. 

In ITV’s new drama, The Ipcress File, Joe will be playing Harry Palmer, and we caught a glimpse of him in action during the brand-new trailer, which aired on the channel this week during the premiere of Trigger Point. 

The Ipcress File is set during the Cold War in Europe. As Britain fights to gain the upper hand, Palmer is recruited from prison by a group of MI5 spies to help with their mission. 

Palmer and the group must head to Berlin to retrieve a missing person, who we are later told designed atomic bombs.

Cole will be joined by Lucy Boynton, Ashley Thomas and Tom Hollander for the thriller, which will launch in March, although a specific date has yet to be confirmed. 

In the trailer, we hear Boynton’s character talking about the Berlin mission, which is followed by a series of shots of the spies and Palmer dodging German guards and running frantically around the city.

We hear that Palmer is a “different class of spy” although it is evident neither he nor his MI5 counterparts trust each other, which may prove to be an obstacle. 

Despite this, there are hints of a romance between Cole and Boynton’s characters as the mission progresses and they even share a kiss in the trailer. 

Watch it below:

The series is based on a 1965 British spy film of the same name, which was also adapted from Len Deighton’s novel, The IPCRESS File. 

This adaptation has been written by BAFTA winner and Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Hodge- who was also responsible for the Trainspotting book and films. 

Directing the thriller will be Emmy-award winner James Watkins who previously directed the Woman in Black. 

The Ipcress File will premiere on ITV in March.