Vera Farmiga Joins Russell Crowe in "Billion Dollar Spy"  Movie

Oscar-nominated actress Vera Farmiga has boarded Walden Media‘s Cold War thriller "Billion Dollar Spy" opposite Russell Crowe and Harry Lawtey. Cameras are about to roll.

Adapted from the acclaimed book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David E. Hoffman, "Billion Dollar Spy" follows Adolf Tolkachev (Crowe), who in real life risked everything to pass thousands of pages of top-secret Soviet intelligence to the U.S. Despite repeated rejections by a wary CIA, Tolkachev persisted, embodying the courage to stand against a regime that betrayed its people.

Finally finding an ally in CIA agent Tom Lenihan (Lawtey), Tolkachev was able to shift the balance of power, proving that true patriotism lies not in blind allegiance, but in the willingness to challenge a government when it strays from its ideals.

Farmiga will play Natasha, Tolkachev’s wife.

BAFTA winner Amma Asante is directing. Oscar-winning writer Stephen Gaghan (Traffic, Syriana) wrote the most recent draft, revising a script penned by Ben August. 

Pic is produced by Walden Media and Weed Road. 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. CAA Media Finance is handling domestic rights.

Farmiga received a 2010 Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for Jason Reitman’s "Up in the Air". 

While her early feature credits include Jonathan Demme’s "The Manchurian Candidate" and Joan Chen’s "Autumn in New York", she broke out in a lead role in Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning "The Departed". 

She is known for playing the role of paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren in New Line’s "The Conjuring" franchise which counts $2.25 billion including "The Nun" and "Annabelle" spinoffs. 

Farmiga is set to reprise that role in the upcoming "The Conjuring: Last Rites" due out September 5. She’s also starring in the movie about the Heaven’s Gate cult, "The Leader", opposite Michael C. Hall, and Tim Blake Nelson.