CBS has ordered 13 episodes of "Extant," a futuristic thriller from Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television production company, the network announced Wednesday. The show will go straight to series for a summer 2014 premiere in the vein of CBS' recent hit "Under the Dome," which is also produced by Amblin.
"Extant" is about a female astronaut trying to reconnect with her family when she returns after a year in outer space. Her experiences lead to events that ultimately will change the course of human history.
“'Extant' is a very original concept with layers of humanity, mystery and surprise that reveal itself throughout the script,” Nina Tassler, President of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement. “Our partnership with Amblin for 'Under the Dome' showed that viewers respond to high-quality event programming in the summer. We look forward to building on that with 'Extant' and offering CBS audiences another high-concept, unique event for summer television.”
The project, written by Mickey Fisher, reportedly came to the attention of numerous studios back in May, and takes place on Earth and in a space station. Fisher was an unknown playwright before talent agency WME sought him out after reading the script.
"Under the Dome" was recently renewed for Season 2, which is also set to premiere in summer 2014.
