The Bourne Saga’s Gay Producer on Bringing His Hit Franchise to TV

by Michael Martin

8h ago

Ben Smith has a sweet gig. The gay executive producer of Treadstone, USA’s new spy thriller, is a bit of a Robert Ludlum specialist. His company Captivate Entertainment produces all the film and TV adaptations of the iconic action novelist’s work, including the four hit Jason Bourne movies that starred Matt Damon.

There’s no shortage of material: Ludlum published 27 books, all of them best sellers, in his lifetime. Treadstone is connected to the Bourne world, detailing a secret CIA network of sleeper agents who are gradually “awakened” to become super-assassins. If you’re interested in conspiracy theories that don’t originate in the White House, splendid international locales (including the Palace of Versailles) and balletically choreographed fight scenes featuring disturbingly attractive actors like Jeremy Irvine and Brian J. Smith, your DVR should have suggested it to you already.
 

NewNowNext spoke with Smith (who was an agent for ICM Partners before switching to producing) about the resonance of Ludlum’s work, why the Bourne series is inherently queer, and the state of Hollywood for LGBTQ actors.

Why do you connect with Ludlum’s work and the Bourne franchise?

The first hardcover book I was given as a kid was The Parsifal Mosaic, which my grandmother gave to me when I was 9 or 10. One of the things I love is that he writes about championing the individual and the power an individual can have in the world. He creates very visceral, intense stories. They’re fun emotional character journeys that also illuminate the geopolitical realities of the world. I can’t think of a better sandbox to be in.

What were the most important considerations for you in bringing Treadstone to TV?

I’m most interested in the characters’ stories. It’s one of the things Bourne did that was different from action movies at the time—there’s an emotional character story that’s happening with the action.

It was also of paramount importance to me that we travel. In the last eight months, I think I’ve traveled just under 40,000 miles—we shot in India, Africa, South America, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Arctic circle, Amsterdam, Paris, London, and Greece. And making the most premium action that we could for television was also really important. At any given time, we had three units shooting. It was a big operation, with a lot of logistics, but it was a lot of fun.

Brian J. Smith as Doug McKenna in Treadstone.

What goes into choreographing the show’s elaborate fight scenes?

Depending on the sequence, they can run from two to seven days in terms of shooting. Many of our actors spent up to a year rehearsing and ND [stunt] training to do all the different things they’re involved in. So there was a ton of rehearsal, a ton of choreography. Thankfully our actors loved being a part of that.

Why did you think Jeremy Irvine and Brian J. Smith were right for the show?

They both read for the parts, and they were incredible. They were both our first choices, without question. A ton of people auditioned, and they just blew us away.

Jeremy Irvine as J. Randolph Bentley in Treadstone.

You were talking about the importance of the individual in Ludlum’s work. How do you think that’s relevant to the LGBT world?

I mean, it’s about identities. One of the things Jason Bourne is finding out is, “Who am I?” And a lot of our characters who are now being awakened are discovering who they are. There are a lot of narratives coming at you. That’s a core theme of the show: There are narratives of state, of society, of religion, but you kind of dictate your own narratives and your own identity.

As a gay kid growing up in Ohio, I had no role models. When you’re finding out that it’s wrong—or that’s what you’re being told—then you’re forced to navigate for yourself. Regardless of what society and my schoolmates were telling me, I set my own narrative.

Did you hold on to that ethos when you started working in Hollywood? As a gay man, did you hit a barrier when trying to enter the world of action films?

I’m sure there are barriers, but it’s not something I give power to at all. I set my own narrative as much as possible. Every time I reach a closed door, I go find one I can open. It is a new world in so many ways, and if there are people who think that because of my sexual identity I can’t be an action producer, then that’s all good. They’re allowed to think what they need to think. But that’s not going to affect how I operate.

Omar Metwally as Matt Edwards in Treadstone.

Was Treadstone easier for you because you have familiarity and experience with the material, or was it still a challenge?

It’s always a challenge, from every aspect you can imagine. There were many, many long days and nights in both the development and production, and I’m still deep in post-production right now. But it’s a fantastic world, and you don’t get involved in this business, in my opinion, unless you’re willing to work hard. It’s been deeply rewarding.

Have you planned out a certain number of seasons?

Treadstone could go on for a very long time. We’ve got a number of movies in development. Hopefully there’ll be another Bourne shortly as well.

Will there be a new Jason Bourne?

It’s too early to say, but for now Matt Damon is Jason Bourne.

Thinking back to when you started working as an agent, and how much actors were encouraged to stay in the closet back then, how do you feel about where things are now?

There’s definitely been an evolution, but I don’t think it’s changed to the degree that I would like. That’s more of a global thing—there is still some stigma. But we’ve had a number of groundbreaking actors and actresses who have come out and been extremely successful. I just hope that continues.

Treadstone airs Tuesdays at 10pm EST on USA.