PROVO — BYUtv announced Tuesday it is launching its second original scripted drama series, “Extinct,” to premiere in 2017.

“Extinct” was created by author and science fiction legend Orson Scott Card and New York Times bestselling author Aaron Johnston. It will be a co-production of Taleswapper and Go Films, Adam Abel producing and Ryan Little directing. Chad Michael Collins is set to star.

The 10-episode, action-packed sci-fi series takes place 400 years after the extinction of the human race and follows a small group of humans who are revived by an alien civilization. The aliens claim they want to restore the human species, but the reborn humans uncover new dangers, hidden agendas and powerful secrets that challenge that claim and threaten to annihilate the human race all over again. Nothing is as it seems to be, and if the colony of revived humans aren’t careful, courageous and unified, they’ll find themselves under the control of one group or the other.

“We are pleased to debut a sci-fi thriller created exclusively for BYUtv by one of the most awarded and bestselling authors – Orson Scott Card,” BYUtv Managing Director Derek Marquis said. “Following the incredible response to our first scripted drama, “Granite Flats,” we are bringing a powerful apocalyptic story to life, written by two of the strongest writers in the world of speculative fiction, and directed and produced by top independent filmmakers.”

Orson Scott Card, creator

Card authored “Ender’s Game” and its sequels and has been awarded the Hugo and the Nebula awards for best novel twice. His “Ender’s Game” was No. 1 on one of the New York Times Best Sellers lists and was recommended reading for U.S. Military personnel. It was also the basis for the science fiction action film by the same name which he co-produced and starred Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Viola Davis and Ben Kingsley.

Card is currently the professor of writing and literature at Southern Virginia University.

Aaron Johnston, creator

Johnston wrote the pilot episode of “Extinct.” He is a New York Times bestselling author, comics writer and film producer. He co-wrote the novels “Earth Unaware,” “Earth Afire,” “Earth Awakens,” “The Swarm,” “Invasive Procedures” and forthcoming “Formic Wars” novels. He was also an associate producer on the movie “Ender’s Game.”

Cast

Collins plays the lead character, Ezra, in “Extinct” and is best known for his work in the “Sniper” film series. He has appeared in films and TV shows, including “Room 33,” “Lake Placid 2,” three of the “CSI” shows, “NCIS,” and is slated to star in the upcoming feature film “Howlers” alongside Sean Patrick Flanery and the new TV show “Freakish.”

Other cast members include Victoria Atkin, Variety magazine’s 2015 “International Star You Should Know” (“Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate”), Jaclyn Hales (“Unicorn City”), Yorke Fryer (“How to Get Away with Murder’), Jack Depew (“Mad Men,” “The Fosters”) Matthew Bellows (“Grimm,” “Fuller House’) and Jake Stormoen (“Mythica’).

Ryan Little, producer, and Adam Abel, director

Little (“Saints and Soldiers,” “Outlaw Trail”) is a Canadian-born cinematographer who along with producing partner Abel has won 16 Best Picture awards on the film festival circuit, including two nominations for the Independent Spirit awards. His work includes films in the “Saints and Soldiers” series. In 2013, Little also directed two episodes of BYUtv’s “Granite Flats.”

Abel (“Forever Strong,” “Freetown”) started his career at Paramount Pictures before founding Go Films in 2002 with Ryan Little. In 2016, he produced the documentary film, “The Journey Home,” which chronicled the experiences of Vietnam veterans as they returned home from the war; it featured interviews with actor Jon Voight and Medal of Honor Recipient Sammy Davis. Abel worked with BYUtv in 2015 as a producer on “Joan of Arc.”

BYUtv programming

BYUtv’s original programming slate includes the critically-acclaimed drama series “Granite Flats”; the long-running, viral sensation and sketch comedy series “Studio C”; the recently renewed reality series “Relative Race”; and the unscripted reality show “Random Acts.”

BYUtv is available in every state of the country via cable, satellite and multiple digital media platforms including byutv.org and on all of BYUtv’s digital platforms, including Roku, Xbox360, Amazon FireTV, iOS and Android.

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