George Clooney to direct political thriller series The Department for Showtime

George Clooney is attached to direct and executive produce Showtime’s political thriller series The Department based on French espionage thriller The Bureau. According to Variety, Grant Heslov will also serve as executive producers via Smokehouse Pictures. Production on the show, which is based on the French series Le Bureau des Legendes, is slated to start later this year. Per the official logline, the original show centers on “the daily life and missions of agents within France’s principal external security service.”

The logline continues, “It focuses on the ‘Bureau of Legends,’ responsible for training and handling deep-cover agents on long-term missions in areas with French interests. Living under false identities for years, these agents’ missions are to identify and recruit good intelligence sources.”

“‘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,” Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Showtime and Paramount Media, shared.

“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.” A remake of The Bureau, also titled The Department, which was written and directed by Peter Landesman, was previously in development at AMC.

Besides Clooney and Heslov, The Department will be executive produced by Keith Cox and Nina L. Diaz of MTV Entertainment Studios. David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin and Bob Yari of 101 Studios are also attached to executive produce with Berger for The Originals Productions.

Ashley Stern and Breton for Federation Studios/Federation Entertainment of America also executive produce the series. MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios produce.

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