Levittown Producer Predicts Richard Gere to Boost Showtime’s Next Hit Show

In a bid to find Showtime’s next big hit, Chris McCarthy, hailing from Levittown, is placing his bets on the star power of Richard Gere. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the co-chief executive of Paramount Global was persistent in getting Gere to take on the role of the tough CIA station chief in the upcoming espionage series “The Agency,” despite the actor initially turning down the part twice.

McCarthy’s confidence in Gere’s ability to draw in viewers to the show is evident in his persistence. He believed that just having Gere’s image on the landing page of the Paramount+ streaming service would be enough to entice viewers to click on the new thriller. As McCarthy put it, “Richard’s so mass. You can put him on a poster with the title, and people are going to get it.”

This bold move is part of McCarthy’s ambitious and costly strategy to revitalize Showtime and prove his own worth before Skydance Media’s David Ellison officially takes over Paramount Global next year. With each episode of “The Agency” costing a hefty $12 million, McCarthy is banking on Gere’s star power to bring much-needed attention to the series and, in turn, the network.

For more details on how Chris McCarthy is pinning his hopes on Richard Gere to drive interest in Paramount’s new series “The Agency,” you can check out the full article in The Wall Street Journal.