George Clooney to Direct Thriller Series “The Department” for Showtime

George Clooney’s “The Department” (w/t) has been given a straight-to-series order by “Showtime”. Through their company Smokehouse Pictures, Clooney and Grant Heslov will serve as executive producers, and MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios will handle production.

Showtime and Paramount Media CEO Chris McCarthy predicted that THE DEPARTMENT, which is based on the engrossing and excellent series The Bureau, would continue in the vein of HOMELAND, one of the network’s most successful and brand-defining shows. “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.”

The agents of France’s primary foreign security service are the focus of Le Bureau, which follows their routines and assignments. The “Bureau of Legends” is highlighted, which is in charge of long-term missions involving deep-cover agents in regions of interest to France. These operatives may spend years undercover in order to successfully locate and recruit reliable informants.

Le Bureau Des Legendes (The Bureau) 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.

“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.”

Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, THE DEPARTMENT will be executive produced by 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; and Ashley Stern and Pascal Breton for Federation Studios/Federation Entertainment of America.