Question: Where did the idea for this show initially come from?
JOSEPH WEISBERG: In 2010, there were a bunch of Russian intelligence service spies who were arrested in the United States, and a lot of people were very surprised that, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia was still sending this type of deep cover spy to spy on the United States. They were posing as everyday Americans. They were, in other words, illegal, like Philip and Elizabeth. After the FBI arrested them and carted them off to jail, I got a call from the heads of DreamWorks Television – Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey – who asked me if I’d be interested in developing a television show based on what had happened. I said, “Yes, that would be great! I would love to do that!” And then, I wandered the streets for a little while until I thought of putting it back in the Cold War, which would make it a little more exciting. That was the genesis of the show.
Source and more: Collider
