Is The Agency based on a true story?

A new world of espionage drama has arrived on streaming, with The Agency premiering on Showtime on November 29, 2024. Produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslow and created by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, the latest spy series offers an intense exploration of the lives of deep-cover agents.

Besides its gripping plot, the drama captivates audiences with a star-studded cast led by Michael Fassbender, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Jeffrey Wright. For the unversed, The Agency is not based on a true story, but its storyline is set against the backdrop of real-world events. It is inspired by another series that is based on real accounts.

The series has a 10-episode season, with the first two episodes released on the premiere date. New episodes will drop weekly on Sundays.

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The story of The Agency

The Agency may not be based on a real-life story, but it incorporates elements of realism throughout the series. For one, it draws inspiration from The Bureau, originally titled Le Bureau des légendes, a highly acclaimed five-season French production known for its commitment to realism. The synopsis of The Bureau from Apple TV reads:

"Based on real-life accounts by former French spies, The Bureau tells the story of a man torn between love and loyalty, in a world where a single lie can kill."

As reported by Forbes on September 8, 2019, The Bureau's writer and director, Eric Rochant, along with his team, spent exclusive time with the DGSE (General Directorate for External Security), aka the French CIA. Their exclusive access to the agency allowed the team to learn how it works, making the show effective in showing the inner workings of espionage.

Although it's unclear if The Agency was afforded the same CIA access, it appears to be taking the cues from the original show.

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The Agency plot explored

The Agency follows Michael Fassbender's character, Martian, and his life as a covert CIA agent. According to the official logline, he is ordered to leave his undercover life and return to the London Station. However, his life in London soon erupts into chaos when a romance he left behind reappears. Now, his real identity, career, and mission are jeopardized as he rekindles his former romance.

The show delves into intrigue and deception as Martian tries to deal with the complexities of his professional and personal life. Besides the show's hero's personal dynamics, the series also portrays the intricacies of an agent's life and the psychological effects of living under false identities.

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Cast and characters

Two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender takes the lead in the series as Martian. He is a covert CIA agent caught in the middle of his professional obligations and a second-chance romance. The Batman star Jeffrey Wright joins the cast as the CIA operations director and Martian's mentor, Henry. Veteran actor Richard Gere portrays the character of a London Station Chief.

The list of main and supporting cast members and their characters in the latest espionage thriller series:

• Michael Fassbender as Martian
• Jeffrey Wright as Henry
• Richard Gere as Bosko
• Katherine Waterston as Naomi
• Jodie Turner-Smith as Sami Zahir
• John Magaro as Owen
• Julia Westcott-Hutton as Senior Analyst
• Muneesh Sharma as Global Analyst
• Curtis Lum as Guo
• Evgenios Kakolyris as Balkan Analyst
• Violet Verigo as Sandy
• Marcin Zarzeczny as Alexei Orekhov
• Tim Samuels as Alex Kent-Jones
• Ignacy Rybarczyk as Dmitri
• Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Ben
• Harriet Sansom Harris as Dr. Blake
• David Harewood as Dalaga
• Adam Nagaitis as Grandma
• Ambreen Razia as Blair
• Kurt Egyiawan as Osman
• Bilal Hasna as Simon
• Saura Lightfoot-Leon as Danny
• Andrew Brooke as Grandpa
• India Fowler as Poppy
• Sabrina Wu as Raine
• Alex Reznik as Coyote
• Reza Brojerdi as Reza

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Catch The Agency now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes dropping weekly on Sundays until the season finale on January 26, 2025.