‘Annihilation’s’ Alex Garland Lands Silicon Valley Drama Pilot Pickup at FX

Alex Garland is shifting his focus to the small screen.

The Annihilation and Ex Machina writer has set up Silicon Valley drama Devs at FX as a pilot order.

The project revolves around a young computer engineer, Lily, who investigates the secretive development division of her employer, a cutting-edge tech company based in San Francisco, which she believes is behind the disappearance of her boyfriend. 

Garland will write, direct and executive produce the pilot, which reunites him with Annihilation and Ex Machina‘s Scott Rudin, who will exec produce alongside DNA TV. The drama is produced by FX Productions and is the first to stem from Garland’s overall deal with the cable network’s studio counterpart.

“Devs is a captivating series from Alex Garland, building on his track record of groundbreaking work that challenges our notion of humanity amid the seemingly boundless promise of technology,” FX original programming president Eric Schrier said Tuesday in a statement. “We’re all the more thrilled that Alex will direct and executive produce with our partners at DNA TV and Scott Rudin Productions.”

Devs arrives weeks after Annihilation bowed to strong reviews and solid box-office returns. (The Hollywood Reporter called the Natalie Portman starrer “scary and beautiful.”) Garland earned an Oscar nomination for writing the original screenplay for 2015’s Ex Machina. He earned a DGA Award for a first-time feature director for Ex Machina as well as three BAFTA nominations, including for best feature. Since the publication of his first novel The Beach, Garland has worked in film, books and video games. Devs is his first pilot order and would be his first TV series should it move forward. His credits also include 28 Days Later, Sunshine, Never Let Me Go and Dredd. He is repped by WME and Bloom Hergott.

This is FX’s first pilot order from its new class. The cabler’s drama roster includes Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans MC, American Crime Story, American Horror Story, the final season of The Americans, Feud, Legion, Snowfall, Taboo, Trust and Pose.