George Clooney, an Oscar-winning director, returns to helm Showtime’s spy thriller ‘The Department,’ adapting the acclaimed French series ‘The Bureau of Legends’ for American audiences.
Ever imagined George Clooney as a master of the world of espionage? Not as the suave agent but the genius behind the scenes! As reported by Collider, Clooney’s cinematic prowess is gearing up to captivate audiences with his direction of Showtime’s spy thriller, ‘The Department’. And if you thought this was just another spy series, think again.
‘The Department’ is answer to ‘Le Bureau des Legendes
For those unversed with international drama, ‘The Department’ is Showtime’s answer to the highly-acclaimed French series ‘Le Bureau des Legendes’ (The Bureau of Legends). The series dives into the intricate lives of agents at France’s principal external security service, focusing on the “Bureau of Legends”, a unit dedicated to deep-cover agents with false identities, working on extensive missions that are crucial to French interests.
But Clooney isn’t just directing. He’s also lending his Midas touch as the executive producer under his banner, Smokehouse Pictures. Given that Homeland, another Showtime sensation, followed a similar adaptation process, Chris McCarthy, Showtime and Paramount Media President and CEO, rightly stated, “Just as Homeland elevated global espionage to new heights, The Department will take viewers even deeper into a world of intrigue.”
Change is in the air. With Showtime integrating with Paramount+ to transform into “Paramount+ with Showtime,” the network is narrowing its development focus on shows with massive franchise potential. ‘The Department’, freshly announced post this integration, seems to be the perfect fit for this vision. And with Clooney at the helm, it seems like a recipe for success.
David Glasser shared his enthusiasm about the project
While the likes of MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios join the production ensemble, David Glasser, the CEO of 101 Studios, couldn’t hide his enthusiasm, “We are thrilled to be partnering with George & Grant on this amazing project.”
From his 2002 debut, ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind’, to the critically acclaimed ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’, George Clooney has a directorial portfolio that’s as varied as his acting roles. His recent Netflix venture ‘The Midnight Sky’ and the anticipated ‘The Boys in the Boat’ only add to the excitement of what ‘The Department’ will bring to the table.
Production is set to kick off later this year, and if Clooney’s track record is anything to go by, ‘The Department’ might just be the espionage thriller we’ve all been waiting for.\
Disclaimer: Except the headline and synopsis, this story has been taken from the HT News Service.