Based on the novel by Walter Tevis and the 1976 feature film starring David Bowie, the drama follows an alien (Ejiofor) who arrives on Earth at a turning point in human evolution and must confront his own past to determine our future.
Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet developed the series, with John Hlavin serving as showrunner. They executive produce with Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Heather Kadin, Rola Bauer and Françoise Guyonnet. CBS Studios, Secret Hideout, Timberman/Beverly and Studiocanal produce.
Production on the drama is slated to begin in London in April for a premiere in 2022.
"We could not be more excited to bring The Man Who Fell to Earth to Showtime," said Jana Winograde, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks. "This provocative drama, beautifully written by Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet and John Hlavin harkens to the original film but feels reborn in capturing the themes of modern culture while challenging our assumptions of human nature. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a mesmerizing actor who draws you in with every action, thought and emotion, and he will be a phenomenal force igniting this journey."
"Everything about this extraordinary story and its creative origins demands a bold, subversive approach to exploring what it means to be human in a world that's never been more connected and disconnected," added Kurtzman, Lumet and Hlavin. "David Nevins and the entire CBS Studios team have really inspired us with their passion for this legacy, and we're thrilled to call Showtime our new home."
The move today comes weeks after CBS All Access was officially rebranded as Paramount+. It also comes shortly after the series adaptation of Halo moved to Paramount+ for a 2022 premiere after originally being picked up at Showtime.
