RICHARD GERE JOINS SHOWTIME’s THE AGENCY FOR PARAMOUNT+ WITH SHOWTIME^®

Political Thriller Based Off the Critically Acclaimed SeriesLe Bureau, Stars Michael Fassbender and Jeffrey Wright

and is Commissioned by Showtime Studios and Produced in Association with 101 Studios

Photo Credit: Myrna Suarez

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July 1, 2024– Paramount+ with SHOWTIME today announced that EMMY^® nominee Richard Gere joins the cast of the espionage political thrillerTHE AGENCY(formerlyThe Department) for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME as a series regular. THE AGENCY, currently in production in London, is commissioned by Showtime Studios and produced in association with 101 Studios. George Clooney and Grant Heslov will executive produce through Smokehouse Pictures.

The all-new political thriller follows Martian (two-time Academy Award nominee Fassbender),a covert CIA agent, ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind reappears, romance reignites. His career, his real identity and his mission are pitted against his heart; hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage. Gere will play “Bosko,” the London Station Chief with a storied past after serving as an 8-year undercover agent.

“Richard Gere is in a class of his own, adored by generations of fans worldwide for his exceptional ability to infuse depth and authenticity into every role he plays,” said Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO and President/CEO, Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios. “We are delighted to have him join our extraordinary cast which includes Michael Fassbender and Jeffrey Wright in Showtime's latest thriller."

Humanitarian, actor, producer and Golden Globe winner, Richard Gere is known for his roles in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Days of Heaven, American Gigolo, Breathless, Pretty Woman, First Knight, Primal Fear, Chicago, Unfaithful, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, The Cotton Club, Shall We Dance and Internal Affairs. Mr. Gere has won numerous humanitarian awards acknowledging his commitment to human and civil rights, health, education and the plight of those disenfranchised everywhere. For the last two decades, he has served as Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet. Next up, Gere will star in Oh, Canada  from director Paul Schrader, alongside Jacob Elordi and Uma Thurman. Next, he will star alongside Diane Keaton and Blake Lively in his upcoming project THE MAKING OF.  

THE AGENCY is a fresh take on the critically acclaimed hit French drama Le Bureau des Légendes (The Bureau internationally) and will debut on demand and on streaming for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan, before making its on-air debut. The series will also stream internationally on Paramount+ in the UK, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany, Latin America, Brazil and Japan. The series is co-distributed internationally by Paramount Global Content Distribution and Federation Studios.

The Bureau - Le Bureau des Légendes centers on the daily life and missions of agents within France's principal external security service(DGSE). It focuses on the "Bureau of Legends" service, 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 New York Times named it one of the top international shows of the decade, and NPR has called it “addictively suspenseful” and “one of the best TV shows in the world.”The Bureau - Le Bureau des Légendes was created by Eric Rochant and is a CANAL+ Creation Originale series produced by TOP – The Originals Productions and Federation Studios.

Golden Globe^® nominee and multi-BAFTA^® winner JoeWright(Pride and Prejudice, The Darkest Hour and The Atonement) will direct and executive produce the new drama series and Tony^® Award-winning writer Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth (Ford v Ferrari, Edge of Tomorrow) will executive produce and write all ten episodes. 

Commissioned by Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and produced in association with 101 Studios, THE AGENCY is executive produced by Keith Cox and Nina L. Diaz of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios; David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin and Bob Yari of 101 Studios (Yellowstone); George Clooney and Grant Heslov for Smokehouse Pictures; Alex Berger for TOP-The Originals Productions; Ashley Stern and Pascal Breton for Federation Studios/Federation Entertainment of America; and Michael Fassbender. Jez and John-Henry Butterworth are writers and executive producers; JoeWright is executive producer and director for the first two episodes.

About Paramount+

Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and A Mountain of Entertainment™. The streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME^®, the service's cornerstone plan, is also home to SHOWTIME^® content, including scripted hits and critically acclaimed nonfiction projects and films. This premium plan includes unmatched events and sports programming through the local live CBS stream, including golf, basketball and more. All Paramount+ subscribers have streaming access to CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.

For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com, and follow @ParamountPlus on social media.

About SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks 

SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks is a global network of media assets that reaches over one billion people in more than 180 countries featuring some of the most iconic brands in entertainment including SHOWTIME, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network among others – and, its Studios arm which produces 120+ series annually, including some of today’s biggest hits such as Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Emily in Paris, 1883, 1923, George & Tammy, South Park, Tulsa King, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Challenge and Jersey Shore, to name a few. 

PARAMOUNT+ CONTACTS:

Cassidy Aquino:cassidy.aquino@showtime.com  

Nikki Kozel:nikki.kozel@paramount.com 

MTV ENTERTAINMENT STUDIOS CONTACTS:

Kelly Andersen:kelly.andersen@paramount.com 

Ali Marszalkowski:ali.marszalkowski@paramount.com 

101 STUDIOS CONTACT:

Dani Weinstein:dweinstein@101studiosco.com