Listen up The Expanse fans (which, to be fair, is pretty much all of us here right?) – the team behind the show and the books have launched a multi-platform content company, Expanding Universe, and have confirmed a major development deal at Amazon MGM Studios.
Headed by The Expanse showrunner Naren Shankar, acclaimed director Breck Eisner, and the novels’ authors and screenwriters Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, who publish under the pen name James S.A. Corey – the new company’s name is a tip-of-the-hat to The Expanse, the multiple Hugo Award-winning sci-fi series that brought the group together.
“On The Expanse we built a deep, immersive universe filled with great characters and intense, emotional stories — on a budget that wasn’t insane,” Naren Shankar added. “And now we’re bringing that expertise to new storytelling universes and platforms.”
“The Expanse was originally created to be a video game, then it became an RPG, then a novel, then a show, and then a couple of video games,” Ty Franck added. “In a way, it was a roadmap for how Expanding Universe is developing projects now.”
Their first project, and the Amazon MGM Studios deal in development, is The Captive’s War, an adaptation of the new sci-fi trilogy by James SA Corey which launched in August.
Set in a distant future of galactic empires and alien civilizations, and inspired by the biblical Book of Daniel, The Captive’s War follows a group of prisoners who rise from the ashes of catastrophe to destroy their conqueror’s society from within. It is an epic tale about the transformative power of individuality in a totalitarian world.
The Captive’s War is executive produced by Naren Shankar, who also serves as writer and showrunner; Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck who will also write; and Breck Eisner who will also direct. The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios.
“Expanding Universe is focused on developing sci-fi narratives with sweeping world-building and elevated storylines, geared toward multi-platform expressions in filmed entertainment, gaming, and publishing,” Breck Eisner explained.
“The Captive’s War is a perfect launchpad for our model.”
Expanding Universe will be announcing additional projects soon.
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