As a fan who has grown up with political thrillers set against the backdrop of real-life geopolitical events, I must say that The Agency, starring Michael Fassbender and Richard Gere, is a fresh breath of air. With its unique blend of suspense, character development, and intricate plotlines, it’s like a fine wine that gets better with each episode.
[This story contains spoilers from the first two episodes of The Agency.]
In the television show “The Agency,” which features Michael Fassbender, similar to other contemporary political thrillers, the narrative unfolds against the actual global political landscape, specifically referencing the Ukraine-Russia conflict as a significant event that shapes crucial aspects of the storyline.
However, as the CIA-centered series featuring Richard Gere premieres on Paramount+ with Showtime shortly following the 2024 U.S. presidential election – an event potentially leading to Donald Trump’s second term and subsequent foreign policy shifts – there’s a strong likelihood that Eastern Europe could experience substantial changes in 2025.
Fortunately, The Agency had previously taken measures to separate the show’s universe. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter during The Agency‘s New York premiere last month, director and executive producer Joe Wright disclosed that while they were adapting the French series Le Bureau des Legendes for the U.S., they found that “events continually outpaced us” as they aimed to modernize a nearly decade-old production.
Wright mentioned that it was necessary to provide more clarity by choosing a particular location, which led them to select April 2023 as the timeline for the series.
Choosing this specific point in time also contributes to another aspect of The Agency‘s geopolitical setting, namely the conflict in Sudan. This is significant because the series takes place prior to an incident in Khartoum, which would have significantly reshaped the environment and narrative within the show if it had occurred.
Wright clarified that one character is scheduled to teach in Khartoum, but if the story takes place in September 2023, there won’t be any university there.
In addition to mirroring real-world upheavals, “The Agency” also draws upon authenticity by having Michael Fassbender and Sasha Lane, portraying the role of young agent trainee Danny, collaborate with actual CIA agents in an attempt to grasp the intricacies of their undercover personas.
Lightfoot-Leon reportedly conversed with individuals within the CIA, conducted her study through extensive listening to various podcasts and staying well-informed about global events. On the other hand, Fassbender shared that the individuals he interacted with aided him in deciphering the complex psychological traits of his intriguing character, Martian.
Michael Fassbender shared some insights about a character he played, who had been isolated for six years in an unofficial field assignment. This is an unusual situation, as it would likely leave someone quite fragmented after such a long time. In this role, the character acts as his own boss, controlling his own destiny. However, upon returning to the agency, he must conform to rules and answer to others again, which can be challenging given his sociopathic tendencies that make him feel that rules are meant for others but not for him.
In contrast, Harriet Sansom Harris, portraying Dr. Blake, a behavioral psychologist assessing the mental wellbeing of the agents, opted not to research any actual CIA figures for inspiration. Instead, she drew from the characters of her legal relatives to shape her performance.
Harris stated that she’s primarily present to uncover the truth, not to belittle or undermine others. Growing up with numerous lawyers in her family, she developed an instinct to persist and never back down. Her character is well-known, you don’t have to read many stories about it; what matters is not whether she’s liked.
Fassbender, Turner-Smith, along with other actors, utilized an earlier project set in France as a means to better connect and embody their character portrayals.
Turner-Smith explained that she had a basic blueprint of the French series as a reference, allowing her to consider its direction and evolution. However, writers Jez and John-Henry Butterworth are adding their unique touch to it. While there will be similarities to the original French show, the production team is committed to creating their own distinctive version with this cast. They have been open about their vision and where the story is headed, encouraging collaboration and teamwork throughout the process.
During the pandemic, Fassbender found himself engrossed in the series “Le Bureau”, although he was unable to locate all seasons. Regardless, he expressed a sense of being unable to break free from the initial installments.
“It was always there,” he said. But, ultimately, The Agency became its own thing.
Michael Fassbender praised Mathieu Kassovitz’s performance, finding it intriguing because a spy should blend in and not stand out. He admired that about Kassovitz as he was the one in the room who seemed ordinary, making him an ideal choice for a spy. While his Martian character is more aggressive and ego-driven, Fassbender found a blueprint in Kassovitz’s work that he could appreciate, noting smart decisions made during the performance. As filming progressed, Fassbender found that his character developed organically, with him focusing on the script, lots of repetition, and trying to bring the characters to life naturally rather than overthinking things.
Alex Reznik, portraying the Belarus-based undercover agent Coyote, pointed out that there’s a French equivalent to his character. Similar to Fassbender, he emphasized that the impact of years spent being cut off from one’s past life and family on his character became more central to his performance.
As a devoted fan, I can relate to Martian’s situation. He’s been gone for six years, but now he’s returning home. On the other hand, I’ve been deep in it for four or five years now. I rarely get to connect with my family because of this. The only updates I receive are from my handler, portrayed by John Magaro. Thus, exploring the aspect of what it feels like to live in such a lonely, isolated world and where fiction blurs with reality seems captivating and intriguing as the series unfolds.
You can now stream the initial two episodes of “The Agency” on Paramount+ along with Showtime. New episodes become available every week, with streaming happening on Fridays, and they air on the Showtime cable channel at 9 p.m. every Sunday evening.
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2024-12-02 07:25