George Clooney will executive produce “The Department” with his trusted collaborator, fellow Oscar-winner, and, let it never be forgotten, “Congo” and “The Scorpion King” actor Grant Heslov, on top of directing. Other executive producers on the series include Keith Cox and Nina L. Diaz of MTV Entertainment Studios, along with David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, and Bob Yari of 101 Studios. Alex Berger, who produced “The Bureau” for The Originals Productions, commented on the news about Clooney’s adaptation, stating the company is “delighted to extend ‘The Bureau’s’ DNA through ‘The Department'” and take the franchise “to the next level, making a new high-stake international espionage show set today in a very complex geopolitical environment.”
Press release hype aside, I am curious to see what becomes of “The Department.” Showtime was never able to match its big cable competitor, HBO, when it came to viewership and acclaim in the pre-streaming era, yet as the home of shows as varied as “Masters of Sex,” “Twin Peaks: The Return,” and “Yellowjackets,” it’s also succeeded in fashioning a fascinating identity all its own. Fingers crossed, it will hold onto some of that weirdness amidst all the restructuring and changes happening behind closed doors right now.