History is adding another scripted original to its roster, giving a straight-to-series order to Blue Book.
The 10-episode drama, from Robert Zemeckis and A+E Studios, will tackle true U.S. Air-Force-sanctioned investigations into UFO sightings — and is not necessarily targeted at prospective car buyers, as its title might suggest.
Blue Book, written and created by screenwriter David O’Leary, sounds like something of a period piece X-Files. It follows a college professor recruited by the Air Force to research paranormal files from the 1950s and ‘60s, each episode drawing inspiration from actual files for a blend of UFO theories with authentic historical information.
“Rarely have I been associated with a project that is a perfect fusion of historical fact and extraordinary entertainment,” said Zemeckis. “We are grateful for A+E Studios’ and History’s support for what I know will be a fabulous series.”
For Zemeckis, famous for the Back to the Future franchise, it’s a rare move into TV. And Blue Book marks drama No. 4 at the A+E network, joining mainstay Vikings and recent entry Six.
“Blue Book is inspired by the true covert events of an era in American history shrouded in mystery,” said A+E Studios president Paul Buccieri. “Robert Zemeckis and the creative team have shaped an incredibly compelling narrative, building upon History’s unique, growing brand of fact-based scripted programming.”
