Story

US Intelligence agent Brandon Scofield and Soviet KGB agent Vasili Taleniekov make their way through the obstacles and ravages of a cabal

Cabal

A cabal is a group of people united in some close design together, usually to promote their private views and/or interests in a church, state, or other community, often by intrigue...

 known as the Matarese. They find out that the Matarese has infiltrated the highest ranks of the society. They break the Matarese riddle and when they are on the verge of defeating the powerful conspiracy, Taleniekov and Antonia, a young and energetic woman whose love Scofield has sought, are kidnapped by the Matarese.

Fueled by the anger regarding the recent developments, Scofield decides to go after the Matarese himself and finds out that the consigliere of the Matarese include the next would-be President himself.

Scofield drives out the Matarese head, called as the Shepherd Boy and deals with him to let go Taleniekov and Antonia and he will in turn give in all the evidence that the Senator who was in line for the Presidency, was the son of the Shepherd Boy himself.

But nothing goes as Scofield planned and he finds out that the entire community of the heads America and Russia are members of the Matarese council, excluding the Presidents of the two countries.

Scofield kills everyone in the Matarese council and goes to the place where Antonia and Taleniekov are kidnapped. But Taleniekov denies all offers of running away and tells Scofield to run away with Antonia while he will take care of the rest as he cannot bear existence in a form where he cannot talk or move freely.

Taleniekov sacrifices himself by burning down the entire Matarese estate and Scofield runs away with Antonia. In the end, all is well and Scofield retires from his dangerous line of work to be a captain in his own ship with his wife, Antonia.

The story is followed by a 1997 sequel, The Matarese Countdown

The Matarese Countdown

The Matarese Countdown is an espionage thriller novel by Robert Ludlum. It is the sequel to the The Matarese Circle.-Plot:Like the legendary phoenix, the Materese are rising from the ashes and are regaining their former power....

.

Real life references

In an introduction to the novel, Ludlum writes that he based the conspiracy on rumors about the Trilateral Commission

Trilateral Commission

The Trilateral Commission is a non-governmental, non-partisan discussion group founded by David Rockefeller in July 1973 to foster closer cooperation among the United States, Europe and Japan.-History:...

.

The "Shepherd Boy" assassin character is based on Juan March Ordinas

Juan March Ordinas

Juan Alberto March Ordinas , also known as Joan March i Ordinas, was a Spanish businessman closely associated with the Nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War, and with the regime of Francisco Franco after the war...

.

The title appears to have been inspired by a popular, now-gone steak restaurant named (Rocco) Matarese's Circle in Newington, Connecticut, about 10 miles from Wesleyan, that was in business when the novel was written and for many years before.

Characters

• Brandon Scofield — an intelligence officer who is Taleniekov's enemy but who ends up helping him in their efforts to find the truth
• Vasili Taleniekov — the Soviet KGB agent who stumbles upon the web of political intrigue and public deceit that revolves around an elite group known only as the 'Matarese.'

Film Adaptation

MGM and Relativity Media

Relativity Media

Relativity Media is an American independent motion picture production and investment company based in West Hollywood, California.- Company :...

 picked up the rights to Ludlum's novel for $3 million in 2008. Writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas

Derek Haas

Derek Haas is a writer.- Life and career :Derek Haas attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he earned both his B.A. and M.A. in English Literature. He lives in Los Angeles, and has made a name as a screenwriter and co-author of several successful Hollywood films. In 2008 he published his...

 have been signed to write the script and Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...

 is attached to star as Scofield. Director David Cronenberg

David Cronenberg

David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...

 is set to helm the project. Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....

 is currently in final negotiations to star as Taleniekov.

The film is scheduled to released sometime in 2012. United Artists

United Artists

United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....

 and Relativity Media

Relativity Media

Relativity Media is an American independent motion picture production and investment company based in West Hollywood, California.- Company :...

 has been in production with the adaptation, even though Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...

 filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on November 3, 2010.