The career of Sharon Stone has been nothing if not unpredictable. From big screen blockbusters, such as Total Recall and Basic Instinct, to independent fare such as Broken Flowers and Bobby; from awards-fodder such as Casino, to diabolical travesties, such as Catwoman – Stone has continued to keep us on our toes. Her latest creative venture, titled Agent X, is headed to the small screen – courtesy of TNT and a 10 episode series order – and Stone is on board as both star and executive producer.
The show is written by William Blake Herron (The Bourne Identity), and directed by Peter O’Fallon (Legit), with Armyan Bernstein (Air Force One) joining Sharon Stone in executive producing. Her supporting cast will feature Jeff Hephner (Chicago Fire), Gerald McRaney (House Of Cards), Mike Colter (The Good Wife), Jamey Sheridan (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) and John Shea (Gossip Girl), among others.
Taking the lead role, Stone stars as a hard-working political phenomenon, who is the newly-elected first female Vice President of the United States, Natalie Maccabee. She is a talented woman whose calm demeanour masks an overly active mind, and her election is the culmination of a rapid rise to prominence following tragedy – she having initially campaigned for a Senate seat in place of her late husband.
In her new role, she quickly learns that her duties go far beyond the ceremonial. It transpires that her job is to protect the Constitution in times of crisis, along with her Chief Steward, and an unseen secret operative referred to as Agent X. This operative protects the US from threats at times of crisis and heightened vulnerability, when a more ‘unconventional’ approach is required. The Agent is always hidden and their identity remains unknown – but they are trained and ready to serve at the word of the Vice President.
If you think this synopsis sounds like a reverse version of 24 – told from the perspective of Cherry Jones’ President Allison Taylor – then you would be right. That’s exactly what it sounds like – albeit with the office in question being that of the Vice President, instead. The Kiefer Sutherland show has undoubtedly left a Jack Bauer-sized hole in television schedules that TNT is perhaps hoping to fill with this latest acquisition.
Could we be witnessing the birth of a great new television character in Natalie Maccabee? You never can tell with Sharon Stone’s project selection – but all will be revealed when Agent X debuts on TNT in late 2015.
