Showtime Orders Spy Thriller ‘Intelligence’

Showtime has given a series commitment and opened a writers room for the new spy thriller “Intelligence,” a real-world scripted drama series from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty). Boal will write, direct and executive produce, marking the filmmaker’s first foray into television. The series, based on real stories from around the world, will explore the secret inner workings of power – how espionage intersects with politics, finance, media and Silicon Valley. The first season will dramatize the behind-the-scenes history leading up to the 2016 U.S. election, with each subsequent season looking at a major world event through the lens of covert operations.

The project is a co-production with Showtime and Media Res studio, with Michael Ellenberg from Media Res executive producing. Hugo Lindgren will executive produce for Page 1, Alan Poul and Jason Horwitch will executive produce and Megan Ellison will also serve as executive producer.

“As he showed with both The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, Mark truly excels at transforming current events into gripping, scripted drama,” said Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc. “When he told us he wanted to use those same, extraordinary abilities to create his first television series, we leapt at it.”

Boal won two Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards (Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay) for The Hurt Locker and was nominated for Oscars® in both categories for Zero Dark Thirty. He also earned WGA Awards and Golden Globe® nominations for both films. His additional credits include In the Valley of Elah and Detroit. As a journalist, Boal’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Village Voice, Salon, Playboy and more.