Orphan Black Co-Creator Set As Snowpiercer Series Showrunner

TNT has found a new creative to bring Snowpiercer to the small screen. 

As reported by Deadline, the network has tapped Graeme Manson, co-creator of the acclaimed BBC America sci-fi thriller series Orphan Black, as the new showrunner of Snowpiercer, the upcoming show based on Bong Joon Ho's 2013 film of the same name. Manson replaces Josh Friedman, who departed from the project in January.

Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming at TNT, confirmed the news, and expressed excitement about having Manson at the head of things. "Graeme's extensive background in the sci-fi genre coupled with his brilliant work behind Orphan Black made him the perfect choice for this series," said Aubrey. "He is the best conductor to navigate the thought-provoking and delicate themes of the series while bringing this frozen, futuristic world to life."

Marty Adelstein, CEO and executive producer of Tomorrow Studios, which co-produces Snowpiercer, added, "I've been a tremendous fan of Graeme's work, and his creative vision aligns perfectly with shaping the Snowpiercer world for a television audience."

Led by Jennifer Connelly as Melanie Cavill and Daveed Diggs as Layton Well, Snowpiercer is takes place seven years following a global environmental catastrophe that sees the Earth become a frozen wasteland. The series will focus on the remaining members of humanity, who live on a constantly-in-motion train that circles the planet, and is said to explore and question "class warfare, social injustice, and the politics of survival." 

Doctor Strange filmmaker Scott Derrickson directed the pilot episode of Snowpiercer, which also stars Annalise Basso, Antonio Cayonne, Mickey Sumner, Alison Wright, Sam Otto, Roberto Urbina, Sheila Vand, Lena Hall, Susan Park, Benjamin Haigh, Sasha Frolova, and Katie McGuinness. 

Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Ewen Bremner, and John Hurt starred in the Snowpiercer film. The movie's creative team — Bong, Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun, and Dooho Choi — will executive produce the forthcoming series. 

In addition to co-creating Orphan Black, Manson has written several episodes of television series such as The Bridge, Flashpoint, and Being Erica. He's also known for penning the 1997 film Cube.

Snowpiercer doesn't have a release date just yet.