Fox order Seth MacFarlane comedy drama

US broadcaster Fox has ordered a 13-episode live-action comedy-drama from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.

The series, currently untitled, is set for the 2017-18 season and will be set 300 years in the future following the motley crew of a “not-so-top-of-the-line exploratory ship in Earth’s interstellar fleet”.

20^th Century Fox Television will produce, with MacFarlane writing the pilot episode and executive producing.

“I’ve wanted to do something like this show ever since I was a kid, and the timing finally feels right,” said MacFarlane. “20th and Fox have been good to me for many years, and of course, [Fox Television Group co-chairmen and CEOs] Dana [Walden] and Gary [Newman] have been fantastic bosses and true pals, so it was a no-brainer to come to them with the project.

His main series, Family Guy, is now in its 13^th season on Fox, in that time growing into one of the most popular animated shows in television history.

“For almost two decades, we’ve enjoyed an incredible collaboration with our partner and friend Seth MacFarlane,” said Newman and Walden in a statement.

“He’s one of the smartest, funniest and most talented people we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with – a great guy who’s also had such an impact on both television and popular culture.”

MacFarlane’s latest effort for Fox, Bordertown, is ten episodes into a 13-ep run.