Michael Fassbender’s new Paramount+ political thriller seriesThe Agencyis a tonally perfect followup to his 2023 David Fincher movieThe Killer. Created for American television by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth (Edge of Tomorrow,Ford v Ferrari),The Agencyis an adaptation of the 2015 acclaimed French thriller seriesThe Bureaucreated by Eric Rochant. Fassbender leads thecast ofThe Agencyalongside Jeffrey Wright, Richard Gere, Katherine Waterson, John Magaro, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, and Jodie Turner-Smith.
Fassbender is a 2-time Oscar nominee best known for his titular role in 2015’sSteve Jobsand his supporting role in the Best Picture winner12 Years a Slave. He is also a part of two major film franchises, X-Men (First Class,Days of Future Past,Apocalypse,Dark Phoenix) and Alien (Prometheus,Alien: Covenant). His other notable film roles includeAssassin’s Creed,Macbeth,Kneecap,Shame,300,Jane Eyre, andInglourious Basterds. In television, Fassbender appeared inBand of Brothersbefore starring inThe Agency.
Michael Fassbender Plays A CIA Operative In The Agency Who Is Chillingly Similar To His Character In The Killer
Martian is a no-nonsense, highly effective covert operative in The Agency
Michael Fassbender plays “Martian” inThe Agency, a storied and hardened CIA operative who gets called in for a crucial assignment after a fellow agent disappears.Martian is cold, calculated, meticulous, highly intelligent, and eerily serious, much like Fassbender’s unnamed protagonist inThe Killer. While Martian and The Killer have similar attributes, they also have distinct differences. For example, Martian is slightly more warm and vulnerable, while The Killer is so unemotionally robotic he comes off as inhuman.
Those who have seenThe Killerwill remember that Fassbender’s titular protagonist in the Fincher film is a hired assassin who makes a compromising error. Given the nature of the CIA-oriented plot,The Agencyalso features similar themes of espionage and a particular brand of high-stakes excellencein the dark world of international intelligence and powerful shadow figures. WhileThe AgencylacksThe Killer’svoiceover narration, it does feature a gripping story and a fantastic cast, making it one of the sharpest spy thriller series of 2024.
Is The Agency As Good As Or Even Better Than The Killer?
The Agency is off to a gripping start after its two-episode premiere
Despite its promising source material and ensemble cast,The Agencyhas received mixed reviews, resulting in anegative Rotten Tomatoes score of 45%after its two-episode premiere on June 13, 2025. Following its two-episode premiere on Paramount+,The Agencyarguably has more suspenseful scenes and palpable action thanThe Killer.The Agencyrivals the celebrated quality ofThe Killerin many ways, particularly in its subdued yet piercing tone. It remains to be seen whetherThe Agencywill be as popular and well-received asThe Killerbut the similarities between the two Fassbender-led thrillers are undeniable.
The Agency
Cast
The Agency is a 2024 espionage thriller following covert CIA agent Martian, who is recalled to London Station, disrupting his undercover life. As a former romance rekindles, Martian’s career and true identity are jeopardized, leading him into a high-stakes world of international intrigue and deception.
