“BLACK BAG”, A SPY DRAMA BY STEVEN SODERBERGH

 

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.

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