For the first time since 2008, Michael Fassbender is starring in a TV series, as the Oscar-nominated actor is headlining the new TV show The Agency on Paramount Plus with Showtime. Not only that, but he is also collaborating on the series with George Clooney, as both serve as executive producers.
The Agency is an adaptation of the acclaimed French TV series Le Bureau des Légendes (aka The Bureau). This isn't the only French TV show that received the Hollywood treatment in 2024, as ABC also debuted High Potential in fall 2024, based on the French series Haut Potentiel Intellectuel.
We've got everything you need to know about The Agency directly below.
The Agency next episode
The Agency episode 5 is now streaming on Paramount Plus with Showtime for those in the US. It hits Paramount Plus for global subscribers on Saturday, December 21.
US viewers can also watch the latest episode on traditional TV on Sunday, December 22, on the Paramount Plus with Showtime cable channel at 9 pm ET/PT.
To stream the show, you must have a Paramount Plus with Showtime subscription. To watch it on cable, you must have a traditional pay-TV provider or live TV streaming service that features the premium cable channel.
The Agency cast
Fassbender is the star of The Agency, playing the covert CIA agent Martian. Fassbender is a two-time Oscar nominee (12 Years a Slave, Steve Jobs), returning to the screen in the last year after a nearly four-year gap between projects. Things began to pick up with his pair of 2023 movies, The Killer and Next Goal Wins. In 2024, he starred in the Sundance hit Kneecap. Other future projects include Steven Soderbergh's Black Bag. It's been an even longer wait to see Fassbender in a TV series, as this is his first role on TV since 2008's The Devil's Mistress.
There are a number of other big name actors starring in the spy series. That includes Jeffrey Wright, coming off his Oscar nomination for American Fiction, playing Henry, the CIA's director of operations and a mentor to Martian. There's also Richard Gere playing Bosko, the London Station Chief with a storied past that includes eight years undercover. Other recognizable names include Jodie Turner-Smith, most recently seen in The Acolyte, as Samia Zahir, and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts franchise) in an undisclosed role.
Series regulars are set to include John Magaro (Past Lives), Alex Reznik (Babylon), Andrew Brooke (Sexy Beast), Harriet Sansom Harris (Clipped), India Fowler (The Nevers), Saura Lightfoot-Leon (Masters of the Air), Reza Brojerdi (Homeland). Recurring cast members include Adam Nagaitis (The Responder), Ambreen Razia (Ted Lasso), Bilal Hasna (3 Body Problem), David Harewood (Sherwood), Kurt Egyiawan (House of the Dragon), Ray BLK (Champion), Sabrina Wu (Joy Ride) and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (The Book of Clarence).
Variety has also reported that Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville will guest star in the spy series.
The Agency plot
Le Bureau des Légendes, which premiered in 2015, centered on the daily life and missions of agents for France's security service DGSE, specifically those responsible for training and handling deep-cover agents on long-term missions. It was named one of the top international shows of the decade by the New York Times and "one of the best TV shows in the world" by NPR. Now it is getting a US adaptation.
Here is a synopsis from Paramount Plus with Showtime:
"The series follows Martian (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."
The creatives bringing the series to American audiences are Jez and John-Henry Butterworth (Ford v Ferrari, The Edge of Tomorrow) as showrunners, with BAFTA-winning director Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Cyrano), directing and serving as an executive producer. As mentioned, Fassbender and George Clooney are also executive producers on the show.
And if you're wondering if this is going to be a one off or not, The Agency has already been renewed for a season 2, so the story will continue after this inaugural set of episodes.
The Agency recaps
Here are the synopses for The Agency, along with our detailed recaps:
The Agency episode 1, "The Bends"
"Covert CIA agent Martian is called back to London Station. An incident in Belarus puts Bosko and Henry on a collision course with Langley. Danny learns a lesson. Someone unexpectedly reappears in Martian's life." Read WTW's The Agency episode 1 recap.
The Agency episode 2, "Wooden Duck"
"Dr. Blake arrives from Langley and is put to a test by Martian and Henry. A spooked source threatens to put an operation at risk. Danny's cover is put in play. Martian, overtaken by events, begins to question Sami's motives." Read WTW's The Agency episode 2 recap.
The Agency episode 3, "Hawk from a Handsaw"
"Henry questions Martian's thinking. Bosko is briefed on a top-secret operation. Poppy makes a startling discovery. Martian confronts Sami about why she's in London and finds a needle in a haystack, before a heated session with Dr. Blake." Read WTW's The Agency episode 3 recap.
The Agency episode 4, "Quarterback Blitz"
"Henry and Martian wade into a diplomatic incident with the Belarusian delegation. Dropped into her mission by Naomi, Danny walks a tightrope. Poppy and Martian attempt a fresh start. Osman threatens Sami." Read WTW's The Agency episode 4 recap.
The Agency episode 5, "Rat Trap"
"Facing pressure from Langley, Henry sends Owen to Minsk on an intelligence mission. Danny's work with Reza generates an unforeseen result. Sami confronts Osman about delicate issues, and Martian, prepares a trap." Read WTW's The Agency episode 5 recap.
The Agency trailer
Watch the official trailers for The Agency right here:
How to watch Le Bureau des Légendes
If you want to get a sense of what is to come with The Agency by watching the original series, you can find Le Bureau des Légendes through digital on-demand platforms in the US. In the UK you can stream it on Paramount Plus or rent it on Prime Video.
