George Clooney to Direct New Espionage Thriller for Showtime

Showtime has given a straight-to-series order for The Department (w.t.), which has George Clooney attached as director.

Clooney and Grant Heslov will executive produce through their Smokehouse Pictures, with MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios set to produce.

It is based on Le Bureau Des Legendes (The Bureau), which was created by Eric Rochant and is a CANAL+ Creation Originale series produced by TOP—The Originals Productions (Alex Berger, Eric Rochant) and Federation Studios (Pascal Breton). Production is slated to start later this year.

Le Bureau centers on the daily life and missions of agents within France’s principal external security service.

“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 and CEO of 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.”

“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 TOP. “The Originals Productions (TOP), Federation and Paramount are taking our franchise to the next level, making a new high-stakes international espionage show set today in a very complex geopolitical environment.”

Guillaume Pommier, co-head of distribution at Federation, said, “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 and 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.”