Where was The Agency shot? Revisiting key filming locations of Michael Fassbender's spy thriller

Paramount+ with Showtime’s The Agency is a spy thriller featuring Michael Fassbender as Brandon Colby, codename “Martian,” a deep-cover CIA agent who must abandon his fake identity after six years in Africa. Created by Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, the show is based on the French series Le Bureau des Légendes and centers on a CIA unit that trains operatives for long-term undercover missions.

Brandon “Martian” Colby returns to London after six years undercover in Africa. Reuniting with his boss, Henry, and clashing with his former handler Naomi, he gets pulled back into CIA operations just as his ex-lover Sami reappears. A top asset, Coyote, is arrested in Belarus, and rookie agent Danny is sent on a dangerous mission in Tehran.

As Martian faces emotional turmoil and increasing pressure, the agency struggles to remain ahead. In the final episode, Martian crashes during a rescue mission but survives, secretly striking a deal with MI6 to act as their informant for Sami’s safety.

The agency felt authentic because they used real locations instead of fake sets. Scenes were filmed in London, Estonia, and Egypt, giving the story a sense of authenticity and making it seem as though it was genuinely taking place worldwide. While some scenes were shot on sound stages at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, much of it was captured on actual streets and in buildings that reflected the intensity and scope of spy activities.

London, Tallinn, Cairo: Mapping the real locations behind The Agency

Filming for The Agency started in June 2024 and took place in several real-world cities to showcase the global scope of its CIA espionage story. The primary location was London, where a large part of the series was filmed. London wasn’t just used for establishing shots; it also featured a fully constructed CIA London Station set at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.

The headquarters' interior was built on R Stage. At the same time, Q Stage and S Stage featured specific sets, including Barbican apartment interiors, underground crime scenes, and a replica of a London hospital. These studio sets aided logistical management while maintaining a British setting.

The cast, led by Michael Fassbender, also filmed on location in London; however, the exact street names are kept confidential for security and privacy reasons.

Scenes involving CIA officers tailing suspects, street-level meetups, and surveillance operations were filmed around central London landmarks. Fassbender was spotted near the South Bank during early production days in September 2024. Some sequences were also shot near Canary Wharf, which served as a practical background for intelligence and government buildings.

Another key location was Tallinn, Estonia, where the crew moved in late September 2024. Tallinn’s Old Town and post-Soviet architecture served as a stand-in for Belarus, where the character “Coyote” operates. Multiple outdoor shots, including stakeouts and chases, were filmed in the Kalamaja district and near the Linnahall area, which offered a cold, industrial setting for scenes involving Russian operatives and Eastern European assets.

The local crew helped with quick setups in tight alleys and on rooftops. These scenes were designed to make viewers feel as though they have suddenly found themselves in a tense cross-border CIA mission.

The show was also filmed in Cairo, Egypt, for flashbacks and missions related to Martian’s early fieldwork. Cairo scenes are brief but important for establishing Martian’s psychological backstory.

Filming took place near the Khan el-Khalili market and the outskirts of Giza, where the character navigates through large crowds and negotiates with an off-the-books informant. These scenes were shot under strict security with limited public access because some involved action setups with weapons and crowds.

While much of the interior drama—interrogations, mission briefings, therapy sessions—was kept inside Leavesden sets, the production team made an effort to shoot as much as possible on location. They didn’t cheat on geography. If a scene was meant to be set in the Middle East or Eastern Europe, they filmed it there. That effort is evident on screen.

The use of Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden for built sets enabled the team to shoot on different stages without significantly delaying production due to travel setups. It also provided director Joe Wright with space to tightly block scenes, especially those between Martian and his psychologist or handler.

Overall, these locations gave The Agency a distinct visual edge and helped keep the world grounded in real geography, rather than relying on green screens or generic backdrops.

Trending

Follow for more updates.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback