Ragesh Dipu
USA Network has added Michelle Forbes and four others to the cast of the upcoming ‘Bourne’ franchise spin-off ‘Treadstone,’ reports The Wrap. Patrick Fugit (‘Almost Famous’), Michael Gaston (‘The Leftovers’), Tess Haubrich (‘Alien: Covenant’), and Indian actress Shruti Haasan also join the already announced cast of Jeremy Irvine, Brian J. Smith, Omar Metwally, Tracy Ifeachor, Hyo Joo Han, Gabrielle Scharnitzky, and Emilia Schüle. The series is currently in production in Budapest.
Created by Tim Kring and Ben Smith, ‘Treadstone’ tells the origin story of the notorious CIA Black ops covert program code-named as “Operation Treadstone.” The program uses questionable behavior modification protocols on new recruits in the agency to transform them into unbeatable secret agents with superhuman powers. The first season of the series reportedly follows the agents called sleepers, who awake because of some mysterious reason to continue their dangerous missions.
Forbes is expected to play the role of Ellen Becker, a CIA veteran who struggles to balance her professional and familial lives while digging deep into an international conspiracy. Irvine portrays the character J. Randolph Bentley, a CIA assassin who is sent on a highly confidential mission. Smith is Doug McKenna, an oil-rig technician whose life turns upside down when his past catches up with his present. Forbes, who is known for ‘Berlin Station’ and ‘True Blood’ marks her return to television with the series. Fugit, who was last seen in ‘First Man’ directed by Damien Chazelle, is known for his role in the movie ‘Almost Famous.’
“Operation Treadstone” was created by author Robert Ludlum along with his iconic spy Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon in the ‘Bourne’ film franchise. Based on Ludlum’s espionage novel series of the same name, the franchise consists of the movies ‘The Bourne Identity,’ ‘The Bourne Supremacy,’ ‘The Bourne Ultimatum,’ and ‘Jason Bourne.’ A spin-off movie ‘The Bourne Legacy’ starring Jeremy Renner was released in 2012.
‘Treadstone’ is produced by UCP and Ben Smith, who is known as one of the producers of the ‘Bourne’ film franchise. The series is written and executive produced by Tim Kring. Ramin Bahrani, who directs the pilot, also serves as an executive producer along with Smith and Jeffrey Weiner for Captivate, Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas for Imperative Entertainment, and Justin Levy.
Cover Image Courtesy: Paramount (Berlin Station).
