Berlin: Oscar Isaac to Star in WWII Thriller ‘The Garbo Network’

Oscar Isaac is set to star in WWII thriller The Garbo Network as a real-life double agent.

William Wheeler wrote the script, which is based on the true story of Juan Pujol Garcia, an eccentric double agent who, with no military or covert training, somehow persuaded both the Germans and the British to hire him as a spy. As it turned out, his real allegiance was to England, and working closely with MI-5, he created a fictional network of 27 spies said to be spread out over England, Scotland and Ireland, supplying him with critical information about British troop movements and military planning. He actually made the whole thing up, but it was a turning point in the war, enabling the English to deceive the Germans about the invasion of Normandy.

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Garcia is the only man in the history of World War II to receive distinguished Medals of Honor from opposing sides: the German Iron Cross and the Member of the Order of the British Empire.

A director is not yet attached to the project.

Storyscape Entertainment’s Bob Cooper and Richard Saperstein, Chuck Weinstock, Jason Spire and Isaac are producing. Cooper will be in Berlin for the premiere of Storyscape’s Maudie at the Berlinale and will be meeting with buyers regarding The Garbo Network.

“This is a tricky part. There are very few actors who can do both pathos and comic grandiosity,” said Weinstock. “Oscar is one of them, and we feel very lucky to have him.”

Isaac recently joined Dan Fogelman’s Life Itself, which is also selling in Berlin, and is attached to the George Clooney-directed Suburbicon. He next will be seen starring in Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi and in the Alex Garland-directed Annihilation. Isaac also will be returning to the stage this summer to star as the titular character in Hamlet at NYC’s Public Theatre. He is repped by UTA and Inspire Entertainment.