ABC picks up Flash Forward ahead of Upfronts

US network ABC has picked up sci-fi mystery series Flash Forward, an unusual move coming two weeks ahead of its annual Upfronts presentation.

The broadcaster has ordered thirteen episodes of the series, which is produced by its sister studio ABC Studios, and is trailing the show during ad spots for its current mystery drama Lost.

The show, which was one of the most talked about pilots during development season, centres around a catastrophic event that allows everyone in the world to see themselves six months in the future for two minutes and seventeen seconds. It stars Joseph Fiennes as an FBI agent trying to make sense of the disaster. It is based on a sci-fi novel from Robert J Sawyer and is executive produced by The Dark Knight screenwriter David Goyer and Eli Stone exec producer Marc Guggenheim.

ABC has made the unprecedented move to announce the launch Flash Forward, which follows the pick up of Christopher Lloyd-fronted comedy Modern Family, which is produced by 20^th Century Fox Television. Previously, the networks would wait to announce pick ups at their Upfronts event  in New York ahead of the LA Screenings.