by JAMES HANTON

A television reboot of the 1997 dystopian biopunk thriller Gattaca is in development at Showtime, the first new series to be announced since Paramount CEO Chris McCarthy added the network to his purview.

Andrew Niccol‘s original film is set in a future where genetic engineering is part of everyday life, and a genetically inferior man has dreams of impersonating another in order to fulfil his dream of going to space. It stars Ethan Hawke in the lead role, with support from Uma Thurman and Jude Law. Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher and Gail Lyon acted as producers. Despite mostly positive reviews, and recognition at various awards ceremonies, Gattaca was not a box office success.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the reboot is being handled by Homeland showrunners Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, as well as Dallas Buyers’ Club screenwriter Craig Borten. However, as final deals have yet to be struck, both Sony TV and Showtime have declined to release any statements.

McCarthy already has oversight of Paramount Network, Comedy Central, and MTV. With offshoots of Billions, Dexter, and Frasier in the works, it is evidence of the CEO’s refocused strategy on franchises and existing properties, which has become a particular focus since Paramount+ moved to producing original content in 2016.

Details of the series are thin on the ground, although THR cites sources that say the new Gattaca show is being given a big billing by Paramount and already may have a future written out for it.