12 MONKEYS Picked Up to Series at Syfy

Syfy has given a series order to 12 Monkeys, a drama based on the 1995 Universal Pictures film directed by Terry Gilliam. The project, written/co-executive produced by Terry Matalas & Travis Fickett (Nikita) has received a 12-episode order for a January 2015 premiere. 12 Monkeys was one of two pilots most recently ordered by Syfy. The other, Bryan Fuller's High Noon, is not going forward.

12 Monkeys, from Universal Cable Prods. and Atlas Entertainment, producer of the movie, follows the journey of a time traveler (Aaron Stanford) from the post-apocalyptic future who appears in present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will eventually decimate the human race.

Amanda Schull, Noah Bean and Kirk Acevedo also star. Natalie Chaidez (V) serves as showrunner and executive produces alongside Atlas Entertainment's Charles Roven and Richard Suckle. Jeffrey Reiner directed and executive produced the pilot. "12 Monkeys is a captivating time travel adventure and high stakes race against the clock," said Syfy president Dave Howe.

The pickup of 12 Monkeys comes on the heels of Syfy renewing Ron Moore's drama Helix for a second season and announcing a return to the longform arena with event series Ascension as the network is shifting towards more serialized fare in the tradition of "space opera"Battlastar Galactica. 12 Monkeys also joins another recently ordered new Syfy series based on a movie, Dominion, adaptation of the feature Legion.