Espionage fans have a major TV release to look forward to later this year, as an engrossing spy thriller starring Michael Fassbender returns to Paramount+. Fassbender famously lost out on playing James Bond two decades ago, but it’s Jason Bourne he’s clearly channeling during his performance in The Agency.
Among the best spy shows on TV today, this suspenseful tale of a CIA operative whose cover is jeopardized by personal circumstance devotes considerable attention to the personal cost of espionage, setting it apart from other series in the genre. Its protagonist is constantly looking over his shoulder, grappling with the danger and isolation of high-level intelligence work off the grid.
Meanwhile, the central role of covert agent “Martian” feels ready-made for Michael Fassbender, and he gets plenty of support from those around him, too. Featuring the likes of Jeffrey Wright and Katherine Waterston alongside a Richard Gere cameo, The Agency’s cast is absolutely stacked with talent.
The Agency Is Paramount’s Version Of The Bourne Franchise
Jason Bourne’s movie franchise might have spawned its own TV spinoff in the form of Treadstone, but The Agency: Central Intelligence is a far more fitting follow-up to Matt Damon’s celebrated spy saga on the small screen. Fassbender’s agent “Martian” feels every bit the master of his craft that Damon’s Bourne proves to be.
Likewise, The Agency’s central character is plagued with paranoia and fear for his identity, which is also a theme that runs throughout the Bourne franchise. Both operatives are imperiled at every turn, whether from outside the CIA or, more worryingly, from within the American Secret Service.
Despite the dangers and personal struggles that come with territory of undercover intelligence work, “Martian” still manages to navigate the world he works in with expert precision. He always maintains his cool under pressure, just like Jason Bourne.
As in the case of Bourne, however, his romantic feelings are an Achilles heel that initially drive his downward spiral towards deadly jeopardy in The Agency. Overall, there’s scarcely a single trope of big-screen spy genre classics like the Bourne movies that this Paramount series doesn’t make its own.
Michael Fassbender Makes Up For Missing Out On James Bond In The Agency
Michael Fassbender recently recalled his audition to play James Bond prior to the making of Casino Royale, which turned out to be the first of Daniel Craig’s five movies as Bond. As perfect as Craig was for the part, it must be said that Fassbender would have made a great 007, too.
As he demonstrates in The Agency, which was co-created by one of the writers of the Bond movie Spectre, he excels at adopting the calm and collected demeanor of an elite-level secret service agent. At the same time, he commands the screen as an actor, projecting a certain enigmatic aura without ever giving too much away.
Fassbender is one of the very best around at playing intelligence operatives, as his turn in Steven Soderbergh’s 2025 movie Black Bag also exemplifies. So far, The Agency has proven to be the ideal platform for an actor of immense complexity and depth to construct a tightly wound, highly skilled, but deeply affected espionage antihero.
The Agency Is Returning For Season 2 In 2026
After the success of season 1, The Agency is returning for a second season with Amir El-Masry joining its cast. The Star Wars and Jack Ryan actor will be playing an Emirati intelligence officer who could well serve as an antagonist to Michael Fassbender’s “Martian”.
Either way, there’s reason to get excited for the show’s return, even if we don’t yet know exactly when in 2026 season 2 will drop. The Agency has all the makings of a long-running espionage saga akin to TV’s version of the Bourne franchise, provided that this second season can build on its promising debut.
- Release Date
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November 29, 2024
- Network
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Paramount+ with Showtime
- Directors
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Joe Wright
