What makes The Agency and Le Bureau des Légendes similar yet different? Explained

The Agency, an American adaptation of the French series Le Bureau des Légendes, provides a structured look into the world of intelligence while building upon the premise established by its predecessor.

Premiered on Paramount+ with Showtime on November 29, 2024, The Agency is produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov and features Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Richard Gere. The series follows Brandon Martian, a CIA operative who returns to London after an undercover mission in Sudan, facing challenges that intertwine his personal life with his professional duties.

The original French series, Le Bureau des Légendes, aired from 2015 to 2020 and focused on deep-cover agents within France’s Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE).

Both shows prioritize the accurate portrayal of intelligence operations, the psychological impact of espionage, and detailed character arcs. The differences lie in their settings and cultural frameworks.

While sharing core themes, the American version adapts its storytelling to suit a broader audience, retaining elements of its French counterpart while establishing a distinct identity within the spy thriller genre.

---

The Agency highlights American geopolitics, while Le Bureau des Légendes focuses on French intelligence

The Agency, an American adaptation of the French espionage thriller Le Bureau des Légendes, reimagines the intricate world of intelligence operations through the lens of American geopolitics.

The French Perspective: Le Bureau des Légendes

Created by Éric Rochant, Le Bureau des Légendes centers on France's Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), specifically its "Bureau of Legends," which trains and manages deep-cover agents. These operatives live under fabricated identities for years, infiltrating regions critical to French interests, such as North Africa and the Middle East.

The series follows Guillaume Debailly, codenamed Malotru, who returns to Paris after six years undercover in Damascus. The narrative explores his struggle to reconnect with his daughter, ex-wife, and colleagues, as well as his ongoing love for Nadia El Mansour, a Syrian professor he met while undercover.

His decision to maintain ties with Nadia defies DGSE protocols, triggering a chain of events that test his loyalty and endanger his position.

The subsequent seasons expand on these themes, introducing complex missions such as Marina Loiseau's infiltration of Iran's nuclear program and the Bureau's efforts to combat a French jihadist. These plotlines not only highlight the operational challenges of espionage but also delve into France's postcolonial struggles and its geopolitical presence in volatile regions.

---

The American Adaptation: The Agency

The Agency adopts the core premise of its predecessor but shifts the focus to the CIA and its operations in global hotspots tied to American interests. Brandon Martian, portrayed by Michael Fassbender, is a CIA operative who returns to London station after a prolonged undercover mission in Sudan. This setting reflects the U.S.'s involvement in East Africa, where political instability and strategic interests intersect.

The show reimagines key elements from Le Bureau des Légendes with an American perspective. For example, an operation originally set in Algeria is relocated to the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in The Agency, aligning with current geopolitical tensions.

Martian’s internal conflict mirrors that of Malotru, as he struggles with his loyalty to the CIA and his unresolved relationship with Sami, an Ethiopian historian he met during his mission. Flashbacks depict the couple escaping a violent protest, showcasing the personal stakes intertwined with their professional lives.

---

Shared themes and key differences

Both series emphasize realism and the psychological toll of leading double lives. They depict the meticulous details of espionage, from surveillance and counterintelligence to the bureaucratic dynamics within intelligence agencies.

Le Bureau des Légendes presents a grounded, character-driven narrative with a distinctly French sensibility, emphasizing dialogue, subtle emotional arcs, and cultural nuances, such as DGSE operatives discussing strategies over Parisian café lunches.

In contrast, The Agency incorporates high-octane action sequences and modern cinematic elements, reflecting American storytelling traditions. The CIA's operations are portrayed on a grander scale, featuring sleek office settings and dramatic international missions.

The interpersonal politics within the agency, particularly Martian's interactions with Richard Gere's Bosko and Jeffrey Wright's Henry, add a workplace drama dynamic that complements the overarching spy narrative.

---

Stay tuned for more updates.