Spike develops Mars drama

US cablenet Spike TV has partnered with one of the executive producer’s behind Game of Thrones to develop a scripted show about the colonisation of Mars.

Red Mars is based on Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars Trilogy set of novels and is being developed with Vince Gerardis.

“This series shines a light onto many views of what it means to be human and asks if can we sustain our humanity under incredible duress,” said Sharon Levy, exec VP of original series at Spike TV.

Levy, along with Ted Gold, senior VP of scripted original series, and Justin Lacob, VP of original series, will oversee the project. Robinson will take a consulting role.

Gerardis has previously worked as exec producer on ABC’s FlashForward and was co-executive producer on 40 episodes of HBO smash Game of Thrones.

Spike recently ordered its first scripted show in seven years with Tut, set to air in 2015. The network has also linked up with director Tony Krantz and actor Gary Oldman to develop a drama about online marketplace Silk Road and optioned scripts for The Crusaders from Pierce Brosnan’s Irish DreamTime as well as The Chairman, based on the Stephen Frey best-seller.