Showtime gave a straight-to-series order to The Department, an espionage political thriller with George Clooney as director. The series is based on Le Bureau des Legendes, a French drama considered to be one of the most popular global TV series.
Le Bureau focuses on the daily activities and tasks of agents working for France’s principal external security agency. It follows the “Bureau of Legends,” which manages and trains deep-cover agents serving extended missions in areas with French interests. These spies have been operating under false identities for years, and their goal is to locate and hire reliable intelligence sources.
Through their Smokehouse Pictures company, Clooney and Grant Heslov will be executive producing. MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios will produce. Keith Cox and Nina L. Diaz of MTVE Studios, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, and Bob Yari of 101 Studios (Yellowstone), Alex Berger for The Originals Productions, Ashley Stern, and Pascal Breton of Federation Studios/Federation Entertainment of America, will serve as executive producers of The Department.
In a press release from Showtime, the people involved in the series stated:
“THE DEPARTMENT, based on the riveting and brilliant series The Bureau, will follow in the great tradition of HOMELAND, one of the most successful and brand-defining shows at SHOWTIME,” said Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Showtime and Paramount Media.
“Just as HOMELAND elevated global espionage to new heights, THE DEPARTMENT will take viewers even deeper into a world of intrigue and subterfuge with complicated characters who struggle with their own demons as they fight existential threats to the nation and the world,” he added.
“We are delighted to extend The Bureau’s DNA through THE DEPARTMENT for SHOWTIME with our friends at MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios,” said Alex Berger, President, and Executive Producer at The Originals Productions (TOP). “The Originals Productions (TOP), Federation, and Paramount are taking our franchise to the next level, making a new high-stake international espionage show set today in a very complex geopolitical environment.”
Added Guillaume Pommier, Co-Head of Distribution at Federation: “We couldn’t dream of a better partner home than SHOWTIME to adapt The Bureau. They share with us the passion, the vision, and the ambition for this amazing show, combined with their strong premium global network which will bring THE DEPARTMENT to the world.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with George & Grant on this amazing project,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios. Paramount+/Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios has been an incredible home to so many of our projects, and we are excited to once again work alongside Chris McCarthy, Keith Cox, Nina Diaz, and their incredible teams.”
About The Department TV Show
SHOWTIME(R) ORDERS ESPIONAGE POLITICAL THRILLER THE DEPARTMENT (W/T) TO BE DIRECTED BY TWO-TIME OSCAR(R) WINNER GEORGE CLOONEY
Clooney and Grant Heslov Will Also Executive Produce Through Their Smokehouse Pictures; MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios To Produce
Series Is Based on the Critically Acclaimed Hit French Drama Le Bureau des Legendes, One of the Most-Watched Global TV Series
SHOWTIME has placed a straight-to-series order for THE DEPARTMENT (w/t) to be directed by George Clooney. Clooney and Grant Heslov will executive produce through their Smokehouse Pictures with MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios set to produce.
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