It would be a bit simplistic, and I’ll go into more detail about the subject, but if in the movies the order is to bet on sequels, on streaming and TV good old espionage is gaining momentum and a new look. I’ve been a fan of Slow Horses for years, although it only seems to be gaining popularity in its fourth year. But by moving away from the 007 style and closer to political repercussions, the “new wave” of spies has found an audience eager for adventure. Nothing really changes.

In this scenario, we find an absolutely breathtaking cast in The Agency, the Paramount Plus series featuring Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, Jodie Turner-Smith, Katherine Waterston, and Michael Fassbender in the remake of the great French hit of the same name that aired between 2015 and 2020. In Brazil, we only have one episode available, and here’s a warning: don’t miss it.

If you’ve delved into digital platforms outside the market, you’ve already checked out the original material, the French production Le Bureau des Legendes. It was a hit in over 100 countries and is considered a milestone for the espionage genre. “What The Wire did for cop programming, the French drama Le Bureau is doing for 21st-century spy drama,” said The New York Times in 2021. Yes, there are high expectations for the remake.

Since the original “didn’t happen” with the general public in the United States, The Agency has every potential to become a hit. The story revolves around the CIA office in London and the agent whose code name is “Martian”. He is removed from the mission where he has spent the last six years (and hides a romantic relationship that risks his career and his true identity). Everything revolves around a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage.

Adapted by brothers Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, experts in the political thriller genre, and with the first two episodes directed by the brilliant Joe Wright, The Agency is a blockbuster and one that proves that the division between TV and Cinema, especially between Streaming and Cinema, no longer exists. Oscar-caliber stars are in both scenarios.

What makes The Agency even more interesting is not the stars, but the current relevance that the script brings to the espionage universe, exploring world conflicts that are different from the French version and even from the other versions on different platforms. That said, the first episode is step-by-step the original story, so those who have seen it know about the spoilers. (Not my case)

If it follows the mantra of Le Bureau des Legendes, The Agency has everything to be successful. The proposal is neither realistic nor dramatic, but plausible. There is a subtlety in the proposal, but it is effectively innovative. Following the plots that John le Carré‘s books popularized – showing the bureaucracy of espionage more than the action – is what makes the story so interesting. And, with just one episode, I already put the production as one of the highlights of the year. 2025 only promises even more!

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