OPERATION
BLACK BAG
Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh,
Black Bag was released in France on March 12, 2025, by Universal Pictures and
two days later in the United States by Focus Features. The script was written
by master writer David Koepp, who is considered the ninth most successful screenwriter
of all time in terms of US box office revenue, with a total gross of over $2.3
billion.
FACING
THE TEST OF LOYALTY
This breathtaking story, woven with passion, deception
and betrayal, tells the story of a high-ranking British intelligence officer facing
the test of loyalty while investigating a critical security breach. The film,
which takes a classic genre with a clever and stylized interpretation,
gradually increases the tension and suspense in a twisted story woven with
deception and betrayal. It also offers a visual feast in terms of
cinematography. Despite this, although the film generally has high character
conflicts and psychological dynamics, it progresses at a slow pace because it
is dialogue-heavy.
Stars;
Michael Fassbender (Shame, Steve Jobs), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine, Carol),
Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton, Roots), Marisa Abela (Back to Black, Industry),
Naomie Harris (Moonlight, Skyfall), Tom Burke (The Souvenir, Furiosa: A Mad Max
Saga) and Pierce Brosnan (Fast Charlie, The Thomas Crown Affair).
PRODUCTION
NOTES
Since meeting more than 30 years ago, Steven Soderbergh
and David Koepp have become two of Hollywood’s most accomplished filmmakers.
They have built a career full of critical acclaim and blockbuster success.
Their new film, Operation Black Bag, is their third collaboration as director
and writer, and is an unconventional espionage drama that takes audiences
inside the personal lives of a pair of elite spies and their search for an
undercover double agent. The key to their successful collaboration, Soderbergh
says, is “equal parts respect and disrespect for each other.”
Steven Soderbergh; "David is really good at his job,
and I think he generally likes my direction. Knowing that, we can openly
criticize each other. Neither of us feels the need to cover things up,"
says director.
THE BIRTH OF BLACK BAG
The idea for Operation Black Bag came about during Koepp’s research for the first installment of the Mission: Impossible series. Koepp interviewed several intelligence officers and found himself deeply fascinated by their personal lives. “Everything about espionage was cool, but I learned a lot more about these people’s personal lives than I ever expected,” says David Koepp.
Ace director Steven Soderbergh is always looking for smart, star-studded scripts with commercial potential. According to veteran screenwriter David Koepp, one of Soderbergh’s best directing qualities is his determination.
"I love that it's written intelligently, like David's scripts, and I want as many people to see my work as possible. Operation Black Bag felt like the kind of opportunity that the Ocean's series presented," Soderbergh says.
THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF THE SCREENPLAY
The most important change that successful director Steven
Soderbergh suggested during the development process was to move the story from
the US to the UK. The main characters of the film are employees of the National
Cyber Security
Centre (NCSC), Government Communications
Headquarters (GCHQ).
CINEMATIC
CITY: LONDON
The NCSC focuses on intelligence that comes from
technology, not people like MI5 and MI6. “It felt like a fresh location for
this story,” Soderbergh says. “There are so many TV shows and movies set in the
American intelligence world. London is a very cinematic city. David agreed.” says.
EFE
TEKSOY
