After over a month since Chiwetel Ejiofor was cast to lead the project, Variety brings word that ViacomCBS has officially decided to move their upcoming series adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth from Paramount+ to Showtime. This new shuffle serves as the newly rebranded streamer’s latest trade with the broadcast network after it previously acquired the long-awaited live-action series adaptation of Halo. According to chairman-CEO of Showtime Networks and chief creative officer of CBS, David Nevins, they think The Man Who Fell to Earth will match more with the Showtime audience due to its “more purely adult’ appeal.”
“‘Halo’ was an attempt to broaden Showtime to a more four-quadrant audience,” Nevins said. “It was [ordered] before we really laid out the strategy for Paramount Plus. Now that we know we’re doing free with Pluto, broad pay streaming with Paramount Plus and premium pay with Showtime, we’re really diving into making these kind of brand decisions.”
“We need to think about where a show is going to have the best chance to build long-term asset value…” He continued. “We’re working on a daily basis with people to develop what they’re passion about and what they think is going to serve the company well all together. ‘Halo’ and ‘Man Who Fell to Earth’ should be tentpole series assets all over the world for Paramount Plus.”
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The Man Who Fell to Earth will follow the story of an alien who arrives on Earth at a turning point in human evolution and must confront his own past to determine our future. The series will be co-written by Kurtzman and Lumet with Kurtzman also set to direct.
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The original film was based on author Walter Tevis’ science fiction novel of the same name. It was directed by Nicolas Roeg from a screenplay written by Paul Mayersberg. The movie was David Bowie’s first starring role in a feature film.
In addition to Kurtzman, Lumet, and Hlavin, The Man Who Fell to Earth series will also be executive produced by Rola Bauer, Tim Halkin, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Heather Kadin, and Aaron Baiers.
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The series will 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 Walter Tevis’ book as well as the iconic Nicolas Roeg film with David Bowie.
(Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Visit Newport Beach)
