MGM Television options New York Times bestselling sci-fi thriller Aurora Rising

MGM Television has optioned the New York Times bestselling sci-fi thriller Aurora Rising, written by award-winning and bestselling authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

Bill Todman, Jr. and Edward Milstein will executive produce with Limor Hakim co-producing for Level 1 Entertainment. Kaufman and Kristoff will serve as consulting producers.

Set in the year 2380, Aurora Rising follows Ty Jones, the top cadet of the Aurora Academy, and his unwanted squad of misfits and losers as they slowly realize that the girl they rescued from hundreds of years of cryo-sleep may be the catalyst for a war millions of years in the making. The book, the first in the Aurora Cycle, is slated for publication in ten foreign territories, with more in the works.

“Amie and Jay have created something really special with Aurora Rising. Their novel blends comedy, action and heart seamlessly in such a wonderful way. We are all looking forward to working with them, Bill and the whole creative team at Level 1 to bring this impressive story to television,” said Steve Stark, MGM president, Television Production and Development.

MGM Television is also developing Kaufman’s bestselling Starbound Trilogy, co-written by Meagan Spooner. Eric Balfour, Stephanie Varella, Martin Berneman and Warren Littlefield are executive producing.

MGM Television will produce and MGM will internationally distribute the series and are currently interviewing showrunners and writers to complete the creative team.

Max Kisbye, MGM’s EVP, Television Development and Production and Rob Hochberg, director, Television Development and Production will oversee the series for MGM Television.