The Man Who Fell to Earth Moves to Showtime

The original drama series The Man Who Fell to Earth, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind), is moving to Showtime from Paramount+.

The series is scheduled to begin production in London in April, with a planned premiere exclusively on Showtime in 2022. Based on the Walter Tevis novel of the same name and the iconic film that starred David Bowie, The Man Who Fell to Earth will follow a new alien character who arrives on Earth at a turning point in human evolution and must confront his own past to determine our future.

Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet are writing and executive producing the series and with executive producer John Hlavin will serve as showrunners. Kurtzman will also direct multiple episodes of the series. Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Heather Kadin are also executive producing.

“We could not be more excited to bring The Man Who Fell to Earth,” said Jana Winograde, co-president of entertainment at Showtime Networks. “This provocative drama, beautifully written by Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet and John Hlavin harkens to the original film but feels reborn in capturing the themes of modern culture while challenging our assumptions of human nature. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a mesmerizing actor who draws you in with every action, thought and emotion, and he will be a phenomenal force igniting this journey.”

“Everything about this extraordinary story and its creative origins demands a bold, subversive approach to exploring what it means to be human in a world that’s never been more connected and disconnected,” said Kurtzman, Lumet and Hlavin. “David Nevins and the entire CBS Studios team have really inspired us with their passion for this legacy, and we’re thrilled to call Showtime our new home.”