What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Saint
Phillip Noyce · Film · 1997
If you loved The Saint, start with The Saint (Leslie Charteris, 1962) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Saint across media.
If you loved The Saint, you crave the high-stakes intersection of identity, international conspiracy, and the blurred lines of morality.
Start with the source
The source
The Saint
Leslie Charteris · Series · 1962
Books on the same thread
The Spy who Came in from the Cold
John Le Carré · Book · 1999
Shares a thread with The Saint: Moral Ambiguity.
Like The Saint, this classic novel explores the cynical, high-stakes world of espionage where a professional agent navigates a treacherous landscape defined by betrayal and moral ambiguity.
James Bond
Ian Fleming · Book · 1953
Shares 2 threads with The Saint: International Intrigue, Moral Ambiguity.
If you enjoyed the suave, gadget-reliant espionage of The Saint, these quintessential spy novels provide the foundational international intrigue and sophisticated action that defined the genre archetype.
The Innocent
Ian McEwan · Book · 1998
Explores: Cold War, Espionage, Loss of Innocence.
This story mirrors the Cold War tension found in The Saint, focusing on a man caught in a complex web of surveillance and international plot in a divided city.
The Secret Pilgrim
John Le Carré · Book · 1991
Shares a thread with The Saint: Moral Ambiguity.
Fans of The Saint will appreciate this look at the legacy of Cold War espionage, where the shifting loyalties and moral gray areas of intelligence work take center stage.
Series on the same thread
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Shares 2 threads with The Saint: Moral Ambiguity, Techno-thriller.
Just as The Saint features a lone operative tackling high-tech threats, this series follows a former operative using advanced technology and his unique skills to deliver vigilante justice.
The Company
Mikael Salomon · Series · 2007
Shares a thread with The Saint: Moral Ambiguity.
This series captures the same internal conflict and double-crossing nature of the espionage world seen in The Saint, highlighting the dangerous reality of operating within secret agencies.
La Femme Nikita
Joel Surnow · Series · 1997
Shares a thread with The Saint: Moral Ambiguity.
Much like the protagonist of The Saint, this narrative centers on a compromised individual forced into a life of government-sanctioned espionage while struggling for personal redemption.
The Prisoner
Patrick McGoohan · Series · 1967
Explores: Identity Crisis, Loss of Freedom, Surveillance State.
If the identity-shifting, high-pressure atmosphere of The Saint kept you engaged, this psychological thriller offers a deeper, more surreal look at an agent trapped by his former life.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The Saint: moral ambiguity.
These cinematic audio stories mirror the suspenseful, self-contained nature of The Saint, offering bite-sized explorations of moral ambiguity and high-stakes tension through a variety of unique, mysterious perspectives.
The Realignment
The Realignment · Podcast · 2026
Explores: institutional change, populism, technological disruption.
For those intrigued by the geopolitical and technological disruption in The Saint, this podcast provides a real-world analysis of the shifting power dynamics and national security threats today.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Saint (1997) a direct continuation of the 1962 television series?
No, the 1997 film The Saint is not a direct continuation of the 1962 television series. While both productions feature the character Simon Templar, the 1997 film presents a standalone story involving a cold fusion plot rather than adapting specific episodes from the original television series.
What is the primary objective of Simon Templar in The Saint?
In the 1997 film The Saint, Simon Templar is hired as a thief to steal the secret process for cold fusion. His mission leads him into a conflict involving a traitor attempting to topple the Russian government and the woman who possesses the secret formula.
Does The Saint (1997) require knowledge of the 1962 series to understand the plot?
You do not need to watch the 1962 television series to understand the plot of The Saint (1997). The film functions as a self-contained narrative about Simon Templar and his involvement in a dangerous international conspiracy regarding cold fusion technology and Russian political instability.
Is Simon Templar the protagonist in both The Saint film and television series?
Yes, Simon Templar is the central character in both The Saint television series from 1962 and the 1997 film. In the film, he is portrayed as a thief for hire who becomes entangled in a high-stakes mission to steal a secret cold fusion process.