Last week, the trades revealed details about “The Department,” a new espionage political thriller series based on the critically acclaimed hit French drama “Le Bureau des Legendes.” Michael Fassbender was cast in the lead role, and the series came from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures shingle. While early reports said Clooney would direct, a new Paramount+ announcement revealed that he’s just executive producing the project and Golden Globe and multi-BAFTA winner Joe Wright (“Pride and Prejudice,” “The Darkest Hour” and “Atonement”) will direct the series instead.

Continue reading Joe Wright To Direct ‘The Department’ Spy Series Starring Michael Fassbender at The Playlist.

Did you believe Michael Fassbender was retiring? Did you think George Clooney was done with his prodigious directing turn of the last few years? Guess again on all fronts, as Fassbender is negotiating to star in a new espionage thriller series from Clooney called “The Department.”

According to Variety, the series is supposed to shoot this spring in London and has already been given a straight-to-series order from Showtime.

Continue reading Michael Fassbender To Star In George Clooney’s Espionage Thriller Series ‘The Department’ at The Playlist.

I guess when you have George Clooney saying he’ll direct a new prestige drama series for you, it’s kind of hard to pass up. At least, in the case of Showtime, which just gave a straight-to-series order for a season of “The Department,” directed by the aforementioned Clooney.

READ MORE: ‘Good Night, And Good Luck’: George Clooney’s 2005 Film To Become A Limited Series For AMC

According to Variety, George Clooney has signed on to produce and direct the new political thriller, “The Department” for Showtime.

Continue reading ‘The Department’: George Clooney To Direct A New Political Thriller Series For Showtime at The Playlist.