The Man Who Fell to Earthis joiningStar TrekandThe Twilight Zoneon CBS All Access' growing catalogue of revived sci-f classics. Based on theWalter Tevis' 1963 novel andNicolas Roeg’s 1976 film adaptation, which featured an iconic turn fromDavid Bowiein his first feature film role, the series “will follow an alien who arrives on Earth at a turning point in human evolution and must confront his own past to determine our future.”
CBS All Access announced the news during their executive session at the summer Television Critics Association press tour, where it was also revealed thatFringeandStar Trek: DiscoveryEPAlex KurtzmanandDiscoveryco-producerJenny Lumetwill write, executive produce and serve as co-showrunners alongside EPJohn Hlavin(USA Network’sShooter). Kurtzman will also direct.Rola Bauer,Tim Halkin,Sarah Timberman,Carl BeverlyandHeather Kadinwill also serve as executive producers, andAaron Baierswill serve as co-executive producer.
“Walter Tevis’ visionary novel gave us a tech god Willy Wonka from another planet, brought to life by David Bowie’s legendary performance, that foretold Steve Jobs’ and Elon Musk’s impacts on our world,” said executive producers Kurtzman and Lumet. “The series will imagine the next step in our evolution, seen through the eyes of an alien who must learn what it means to become human, even as he fights for the survival of his species.”
“We are thrilled to add another iconic genre favorite to our lineup as we expand original programming on CBS All Access,” said Julie McNamara, Executive Vice President, Original Content, CBS All Access. “We know this series will capture the soul and spirit of the source material and further push narrative boundaries in the capable hands of Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet and the entire producing team.”
There’s no doubt that adapting a story likeThe Man Who Fell to Earthcomes with its challenges in the shadow of the beloved film and Bowie performance. Especially on the heels of CBS’s disappointingTwilight Zonereboot. But withStar Trek: PicardandThe Standin the works alongside returning series likeStrange AngelandTell Me a Story, it’s clear that CBS All Access is leaning into an entirely different, genre-based content approach compared to its network offerings.
The Man Who Fell to Earthwill be co-produced by CBS Television Studios and TANDEM Productions, a STUDIOCANAL Company, in association with Secret Hideout and Timberman/Beverly. STUDIOCANAL owns the rights for both Tevis’ and Roeg’s film.
