Deep State – a new series exclusive to FOX UK – is a murky espionage thriller that feels especially relevant in 2018.
For actor Joe Dempsie, who plays MI6 operative Harry Clarke, it was the gripping storyline, the political angle, and an opportunity to work with series lead Mark Strong (playing Harry's father and fellow agent Max Easton) that convinced him to sign up.
"Mark was already attached to play Max," Dempsie tells Digital Spy. "Over the years, I've become slightly weary of taking the taste of an actor who I admire as a prerequisite for something being good... because it's not always the case! But it's always a good start."
Deep State is an 8-parter that sees Strong's character, a retired spy, drawn back into the game when his son Harry lands himself in danger, with both soon immersed in government conspiracy and a covert intelligence war.
"You could tell from the page that it wasn't going to be the kind of thing that you could absent-mindedly have on in the background, while you messed about on your phone," Dempsie says.
"It demands your attention. It's cerebral and it's complex and it's intricate.
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"It kind of has everything. It's a spy thriller, which we've seen loads of over the years, but it also has this extra layer to it: that was these highly-trained people in extreme environments also have to hold together something resembling a regular family life.
"I don't think you see that portrayed too often on-screen. And added to that, it had a political angle as well, which always intrigues me."
According to Dempsie, the more grounded aspects of Deep State – the show's violence, but also its lack of showiness and portrayal of Easton's family life – help to set it apart from other screen spy adventures, like the 007 movies.
"Obviously, James Bond is the most well known British spy of all, but I think we set out to make something very different to that. An inherent part of the appeal of Bond is the glamour – there's very little glamour in Deep State!"
Testament to that was a shoot carried out entirely on location in what Dempsie calls the "huge, bustling, working city" of Casablanca, which doubles for Beirut and Tehran in the international thriller.
"In hindsight, the thing I get a bit of a kick out of is the idea that loads of bright-eyed young couples in love will have booked a long weekend to Casablanca, because they've seen the movie...
"... and they arrive in this place which is this big, heaving port town, with very little romance to it whatsoever!"
Deep State premieres April 5 at 9pm on FOX. The series will also be available on NOW TV through an Entertainment Pass for £7.99.
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