History opens Blue Book UFO drama

US cablenet History has given a straight-to-series order to an original drama inspired by US military investigations into UFOs in the 1960s, exec produced by Oscar winner Robert Zemeckis.

Robert Zemeckis

Blue Book is a 10-part series from History sibling A+E Studios and ImageMovers subsidiary Compari Entertainment.

The show is based on Project Blue Book, a US Air Force-sponsored initiative that investigated UFO-related phenomena in the 1950s and 60s, with each episode drawing on actual files, mixing theory with genuine events.

Details on production and release date are not yet available but History continues to invest in drama despite sister network A&E recently moving away from the genre and president and general manager Jana Bennett leaving.

Blue Book follows in the wake of History drama series including Hatfields & McCoys, Vikings, Texas Rising, Roots, US Navy Seal drama Six and upcoming Knights Templar-themed Knightfall.

“Rarely have I been associated with a project that is a perfect fusion of historical fact and extraordinary entertainment,” said Zemeckis, whose credits include Forrest Gump, Back to the Future and Contact.

A+E Studios and A+E Networks portfolio group president Paul Buccieri added: “Blue Book is inspired by the true covert events of an era in American history shrouded in mystery. Robert Zemeckis and the creative team have shaped an incredibly compelling narrative, building upon History’s unique, growing brand of fact-based scripted programming.”

Zemeckis, Jack Rapke (Cast Away, Flight) and Jackie Levine (Allied, The Walk) are exec producers for Compari Entertainment. David O’Leary is creator and writer. Arturo Interian is the exec in charge of production for History.