Michael Crichton’s book “Sphere” is being adapted into a potential TV series for HBO by the producers and a writer behind “Westworld”…
HBO is ready to go under the sea.
A new series is in development based in the Michael Crichton book “Sphere” with “Westworld” writer and executive producer Denise Thé serving as showrunner with “Westworld” creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan also on board as producers for the series.
The book was already adapted into a forgettable 1998 movie starring Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson and Sharon Stone but obviously the series would be taking a much deeper dive (no pun intended) into the source material.
“Sphere” is a story about a team of scientists who discover and study a spacecraft of unknown origin found 1,000 feet below the surface of the ocean. The TV version sounds similar, although given the way “Westworld” expanded on the original movie (also written by Crichton), it’s likely “Sphere” would receive a similar treatment. Here’s the synopsis from HBO:
“Sphere” will potentially plunge viewers 1,000 feet into the ocean, where a group of scientists confronts the surreal, beautiful, and deadly mysteries of the universe, only to find the people closest to us may prove to be the most alien.
“Westworld” was previously renewed for a fourth season on HBO as the studio maintains a solid working relationship with Joy and Nolan despite the husband and wife duo signing a rich overall development deal with Amazon.
There’s no word yet on how quickly “Sphere” will get put into development but the first hurdle is out of the way on a new potential series for HBO.
