Syfy orders scripted space opera

US cable net Syfy has ordered The Expanse, a straight to series ‘space opera’.

The ten-episode show will be based on Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck’s bestselling book series. It will be made by Alcon Television, the TV arm of movie producer Alcon Entertainment.

Syfy is moving into scripted originals and claimed The Expanse is its “boldest new series commitment to date”.

A thriller set two hundred years in the future, The Expanse follows the case of a young woman who brings a hardened detective and a rogue ship’s captain together in a race across space to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history.

Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Children of Men, Iron Man) wrote the pilot and will pen more episodes and executive produce.

Alcon will retain worldwide distribution rights to the series. Casting for on- and behind-the-camera talent is underway.