Showtime to Develop Spy Thriller ‘Intelligence’ From ‘Hurt Locker’ Writer Mark Boal

The first season, if ordered, would center on the 2016 U.S. election

Mark Boal gamestop
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for WGAw

Showtime is developing “Intelligence,” a spy thriller from “Hurt Locker” and “Zero Dark Thirty” alum Mark Boal.

The pay cable network has given “Intelligence” a series commitment and opened a writers room. Boal would write, direct and executive produce the series, making this his first TV project. It does not yet have a formal series order.

“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.”

Based on real stories from around the world, the series will explore the secret inner-workings of power and how espionage intersects with politics, finance, media and Silicon Valley. The first season will explore the behind-the-scenes history that led to the 2016 U.S. election. Each subsequent season will look at a major world even through the lens of covert operations.

Boal is a frequent collaborator with director Kathryn Bigelow, penning the script for her films “Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Detroit.” Boal won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for “Hurt Locker,” which also won Best Picture in 2010. Boal also co-wrote the Netflix film, “Triple Frontier.”

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.

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