Agent Game

{{Distinguish|Agent (video game){{!}}Agent (video game)}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Agent Game

| image = Agent Game.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Grant S. Johnson

| producer = Tyler W. Konney

| writer = {{Plainlist|

Mike Langer
Tyler W. Konney

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Kiley Norton

| cinematography = David Kruta

| editing = Charlie Porter

| studio = {{Plainlist|

Taylor & Dodge
Project Infinity

}}

| distributor = Saban Films

| released = {{Film date|2022|04|08}}

| runtime = 90 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Agent Game is a 2022 American spy action-thriller film directed by Grant S. Johnson and written by Mike Langer and producer Tyler W. Konney. It stars Dermot Mulroney, Adan Canto (in his final film role), Katie Cassidy, Annie Ilonzeh, Rhys Coiro, Barkhad Abdi, Jason Isaacs, and Mel Gibson. Filming took place in Augusta, Georgia, from March to April 2021.

The film was released in the United States on April 8, 2022, by Saban Films. It was panned by critics.

Plot

CIA officer Harris is involved in missions to detain and relocate foreign nationals for interrogation. When Harris' superior is murdered, he finds himself the scapegoat for the killing of a detainee and must run from a team of operatives sent to bring him in, led by a ruthless double agent.

Cast

{{Castlist|

Dermot Mulroney as Harris, a CIA officer
Adan Canto as Kavinsky, an operative
Katie Cassidy as Miller, an operative
Annie Ilonzeh as Visser, an agent
Rhys Coiro as Reese, an operative
Barkhad Abdi as Omar, a detainee
Jason Isaacs as Bill, Harris' superior
Mel Gibson as Olsen, a high-ranking official in the CIA
Matt Riedy as Deputy Director, a CIA deputy director

}}

Production

=Development=

{{Multiple image|perrow = 1|total_width = 180

| direction = vertical

| image1 = Wells Fargo Building (Augusta), May 2017 2.jpg

| image2 = Sibley Mill Augusta GA.jpg

| footer = Filming took place around the Augusta University Building (top) and the Sibley Mill (bottom).

}}

The independent film Agent Game was announced on March 5, 2021, when it was reported that Mel Gibson, Dermot Mulroney, Katherine McNamara, Rhys Coiro, and Annie Ilonzeh had been cast in the project from director Grant S. Johnson and writers Mike Langer and Tyler W. Konney.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/mel-gibson-dermot-mulroney-katherine-mcnamara-agent-game-spy-thriller-1234708198/|title=Mel Gibson, Dermot Mulroney, Katherine McNamara, Rhys Coiro & Annie Ilonzeh Join Agent Game Spy Thriller|date=March 5, 2021|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305235006/https://deadline.com/2021/03/mel-gibson-dermot-mulroney-katherine-mcnamara-agent-game-spy-thriller-1234708198/|archive-date=March 5, 2021|url-status=live}} Soon after, Katie Cassidy, Jason Isaacs, Barkhad Abdi, and Adan Canto joined the cast.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/katie-cassidy-mel-gibson-grant-s-johnson-agent-game-1234721800/|title=Katie Cassidy Joins Mel Gibson & Dermot Mulroney In Agent Game|date=March 25, 2021|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325215203/https://deadline.com/2021/03/katie-cassidy-mel-gibson-grant-s-johnson-agent-game-1234721800/|archive-date=March 25, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/jason-isaacs-barkhad-abdi-adan-canto-indie-spy-thriller-agent-game-1234742498/|title=Jason Isaacs, Barkhad Abdi & Adan Canto Board Indie Spy Thriller Agent Game|date=April 23, 2021|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423211934/https://deadline.com/2021/04/jason-isaacs-barkhad-abdi-adan-canto-indie-spy-thriller-agent-game-1234742498/|archive-date=April 23, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=April 23, 2021}}

=Filming=

Principal photography for the film began in Augusta, Georgia, on March 29, 2021, and concluded the following month on April 23.{{cite web|url=https://www.wjbf.com/csra-news/agent-game-movie-making-really-takes-off/|title=Out There... Somewhere: Agent Game movie making really takes off|date=April 23, 2021|website=WJBF|access-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424233329/https://www.wjbf.com/csra-news/agent-game-movie-making-really-takes-off/|archive-date=April 24, 2021|url-status=live}} Filming locations included the Augusta University Building on 699 Broad Street, Thomson-McDuffie Regional Airport, and a warehouse on Evans to Locks Road used to replicate a European airplane hangar, where a shootout scene and multiple explosions were shot.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrdw.com/2021/04/15/film-crews-do-more-work-in-augusta-for-mel-gibson-movie/|title=Film crews do more work in Augusta for Mel Gibson movie|date=April 15, 2021|website=WRDW-TV|access-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424233334/https://www.wrdw.com/2021/04/15/film-crews-do-more-work-in-augusta-for-mel-gibson-movie/|archive-date=April 24, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2021/03/29/filming-taking-place-downtown-augusta-independent-film/7045148002/|title=Mel Gibson in downtown Augusta to make spy thriller|date=March 29, 2021|first=Jozsef|last=Papp|website=The Augusta Chronicle|access-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424230247/https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2021/03/29/filming-taking-place-downtown-augusta-independent-film/7045148002/|archive-date=April 24, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/entertainment/2021/04/23/film-crew-spy-thriller-agent-game-augusta-goes-out-bang/7310822002/|title=Agent Game film crew in Augusta goes out with a bang|date=April 23, 2021|first=Joe|last=Hotchkiss|website=The Augusta Chronicle|access-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423212817/https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/entertainment/2021/04/23/film-crew-spy-thriller-agent-game-augusta-goes-out-bang/7310822002/|archive-date=April 23, 2021|url-status=dead}} The Sibley Mill on the Augusta Canal was also used to create the "secret spy detention center" in the film. Due to the presence of gunfire, a letter was sent to local residents before the production shot a scene in which Gibson fires a prop gun multiple times towards a moving vehicle.{{cite web|url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/videos/news/2021/03/29/watch-now-mel-gibson-filming-downtown-augusta/7050559002/|title=Watch Now: Mel Gibson filming in downtown Augusta|date=March 29, 2021|first=Will|last=McCranie|website=The Augusta Chronicle|access-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424230243/https://www.augustachronicle.com/videos/news/2021/03/29/watch-now-mel-gibson-filming-downtown-augusta/7050559002/|archive-date=April 24, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wfxg.com/story/43584121/caught-on-camera-filming-brings-mel-gibson-to-augusta|title=Caught on Camera: Filming brings Mel Gibson to Augusta|date=March 31, 2021|first=Mary|last=Klinger|website=WFXG|access-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424233630/https://www.wfxg.com/story/43584121/caught-on-camera-filming-brings-mel-gibson-to-augusta|archive-date=April 24, 2021|url-status=live}}

In shooting the film in Georgia, production manager Mark Crump said he spoke with line producer Warren Ostergard to take the project to the state. Konney, who also co-produced the film, said that the production would help the local economy, with the Film Augusta designee, Jennifer Bowen, estimating its economic impact to be in the region of $1 million. In a separate interview, Konney also mentioned that the project was able to hire local people from Augusta for every department in the film, allowing the production crew to accomplish their "big ambitions".{{cite web|url=https://www.wjbf.com/top-stories/filming-for-spy-thriller-agent-game-continues-in-augusta/|title=Filming for spy thriller Agent Game continues in Augusta|date=April 22, 2021|first=Deirnesa|last=Jefferson|website=WJBF|access-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424233633/https://www.wjbf.com/top-stories/filming-for-spy-thriller-agent-game-continues-in-augusta/|archive-date=April 24, 2021|url-status=live}}

Release

The film was released online and in select theaters in the United States on April 8, 2022, by Saban Films.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/agent-game-trailer-mel-gibson-jason-isaacs-dermot-mulroney/|title=Exclusive: Agent Game Trailer Teases an Action Packed Spy Thriller With Mel Gibson and Dermot Mulroney|date=March 7, 2022|first=Samantha|last=Coley|website=Collider|access-date=March 8, 2022}}