Joe Wright, Jez & John-Henry Butterworth Board ‘The Department’ Based On French Series ‘The Bureau’
deadline.comJoe Wright, director behind the Golden Globe and multi-BAFTA winning films Pride and Prejudice, The Darkest Hour and Atonement, is set to direct and executive produce The Department, based on the acclaimed French espionage political thriller The Bureau, from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures, MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.
Wright replaces Clooney, who initially was slated to direct the series. Also boarding the series are Tony Award-winning writer Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth (Ford v Ferrari, Edge of Tomorrow), who will executive produce and pen all 10 episodes.
Clooney and Heslov will executive produce through their Smokehouse Pictures along with David C. Glasser and 101 Studios. Given a straight-to-series at Showtime in 2023, The Department will premiere on Paramount+ with Showtime later this year.
Michael Fassbender is reported to be in talks to star in the series. “Joe Wright is a visionary director with a gift of focusing on intricate details to craft immersive and visually striking stories,” said Chris McCarthy, President/CEO Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. “And, Jez and John-Henry are masterful writers whose witty and emotionally charged language dives deep into their characters’ moral complexities, while simultaneously creating a propulsive narrative.
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