There’s a new action-packed thriller series on everybody’s radar, and for good reason. The Agency just dropped its first two episodes on Paramount+ and my god, the cast is a dream.
George Clooney is executive producing this remake of the French show Le Bureaus des Legendes, and he’s cast an obscene amount of hot dads, or zaddies, if you will.
I’m talking about the one and only Michael Fassbender, who plays the main character Martian, Richard Gere himself in his first ever US TV role and The Wire’s Dominic West. It’s safe to say I won’t be watching just for the plot.
But for those a little more invested in the story, you’ll be pleased to know that The Agency sounds pretty damn interesting. It follows Fassbender’s character Martian who is pulled from his secret life as an undercover CIA Agent, leaving behind everything he’s known for years. When his former flame Samia Zahir (Jodie Turner-Smith) enters his life again, he has to figure out how to balance his romance with, well, staying alive. And yep, it’s a deadly game to play indeed.
With such a stacked cast, it makes sense that the show has already broken streaming records and has been renewed for season two. If you’re wondering about who you might see pop up on your screen while watching The Agency, let’s take a look.
Michael Fassbender: Martian
Michael Fassbender plays the main role of Martian, which is objectively an awesome name. He’s been deep undercover in Africa for six years when he gets the order to return back to London immediately. He leaves behind his lover, Samia Zahir, but she ends up tracking him down in London.
Fassbender recently noted how complex Martian’s reality is as he tries to distinguish between his two separate lives in Africa and London.
“Even when he’s undercover, that’s real to him,” he told TV Line. “Lies and truth have become so merged that it’s blurry. You can’t tell the difference with him… ‘cause everything is a lie and the truth.”
“What has the journey and the road done to him, and how has his moral compass been shifted over those 20 years [of his career], and what he’s had to do?” he asked.
He’s also an executive producer of the show, which is what you’d expect from such a massive name. He’s been nominated twice for an Academy Award and three times at the Golden Globes. You might recognise him for his mainstream role as Magneto in the X-Men franchise, from the title role in Steve Jobs or his critically acclaimed performance in 12 Years a Slave.
Jodie Turner-Smith: Samia Zahir
You might not be as familiar with the British Jamaican actor Jodie Turner-Smith, but she’s definitely a talent to watch. The star has had a few key roles in other TV shows, including The Last Ship, Nightflyers and Anne Boleyn.
I reckon her role as Samia Zahir will be her breakthrough, and it’s such a juicy character for her to sink her teeth into.
She recently opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about how wonderful it was to be able to represent Sudanese women in The Agency.
“I also love that I got to play a dark-skinned Sudanese woman, not specifically South Sudanese, but Sudanese, because the representation of Sudanese women as well as Sudanese people is often fairer, more Arab-looking,” she explained.
“We speak a lot of Arabic on this show. We put in a lot of hours of effort. I studied and I look forward to continuing to study that language… I hope that Arabic-speaking peoples, even those not from Sudan, when they watch this, they feel like it’s a great representation of them and of the language and of the culture.”
Richard Gere: Bosko
Richard Gere is in charge as the London Station Chief and you better believe he has an air of importance! He’s the highest-ranking officer in London, but he’s paid his dues doing fieldwork in the past.
It was a bit of a challenge for Gere to come on set after filming had been going for approximately a month and act like the big boss.
“Unfortunately, the first scene we did I was very upset with them,” he told The Wrap. “It was a day of experimentation, of finding the character, but then finding that character upset in extremis, so it was a little tricky.”
But after having so much experience in the film industry, he totally owned it. After all, he’s been in some absolute classic movies in his time, like American Gigolo, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride and Chicago, for which he won a Golden Globe.
Jeffrey Wright: Henry Ogletree
Jeffrey Wright plays Henry Ogletree, the head of the deep cover department in the CIA. He’s Martian’s superior, and it’s his job to keep him in line and safe.
The actor has had an epic career, and he’s already won an Emmy, a Tony, a Golden Globe and has been nominated for an Academy Award. He could be on his way to securing an EGOT in the near future!
Hunger Games fans will recognise him as wiring expert Beetee Latier, while James Bond fans will know him as Felix Leiter from Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and No Time to Die. He’s also been in Lady in the Water, The French Dispatch and The Batman.
Katherine Waterston: Naomi
Katherine Waterston plays Naomi, who is Martian’s former case officer in the CIA. I love a strong female character!
The British-American actor has actually worked with Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs, which was one of her breakout roles. Since then, she’s been seen in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Alien: Covenant and Logan Lucky.
Dominic West: CIA Director
Dominic West is the head honcho! His character is the Director of the CIA, so he’ll be barking orders left, right and centre. Not much is known about his role in the show yet, so you’ll just have to stay tuned.
He started his career in the ‘90s, but his biggest role came when he landed Jimmy McNulty in The Wire, which ran for seven years. He’s more recently known for playing Prince Charles in The Crown, which saw him be nominated for an Emmy. He’s also been in big movies like Chicago, Mona Lisa Smile, A Christmas Carol and Tomb Raider.
There you have it! The genetically-blessed cast of The Agency and where you might have seen them before. Now you can throw Letterboxd aside while watching, and fully immerse yourself into the spy action.
The first three episodes of The Agency are streaming only on Paramount+, with new episodes dropping on Saturdays.
Lead image: Getty, Paramount+ Australia
