The Department: George Clooney to Direct Showtime’s Political Thriller

Oscar winner George Clooney has signed on to direct Showtime’s forthcoming political thriller drama titled The Department. According to Variety, the project is based on the French series called Le Bureau des Legendes, or The Bureau.

“‘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 said in a statement. “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.”

This marks Clooney’s second time directing a series after previously helming and starring in Hulu’s dark comedy miniseries Catch 22. Besides The Department, the acclaimed actor-turned-filmmaker’s next directorial project is the drama film titled The Boys in the Boat, starring Callum Turner and Joel Edgerton.

The Department will be executive produced by Clooney and Grant Heslov through their Smokehouse Pictures banner along with Keith Cox and Nina L. Diaz for MTV Entertainment Studios. Production is expected to begin later this year.

“The series follows the daily life and missions of agents within France’s principal external security service,” reads the synopsis. “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.”

Additional executive producers are David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, and Bob Yari of 101 Studios and Berger for The Originals Productions, and Ashley Stern and Pascal Breton for Federation Studios/Federation Entertainment of America. It hails from MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios produce.