John Scalzi’s Hugo-winning novel Redshirts has been optioned for television by FX. The book, set in the 25th century, focuses on the crew of a spaceship who start to notice that new and low-ranking staffers are meeting untimely deaths while on away missions. Investigations lead to a startling discovery that involves warping realities among other challenges. It’s meta and comedic, and FX has plans to adapt the story into a limited series.

Deadline reports Jon Shestack, Alexandra Beattie, and Ken Kwapis are set to executive produce, and Kwapis will direct the opening episode. Kwapis told Deadline, “If Jorge Luis Borges had been a staff writer on the original Star Trek, he would no doubt have concocted a story like Redshirts.” The description of the story sounds like Star Trek meets Galaxy Quest, and that would be intriguing to see on television.

They’re still on the hunt for writers to handle the adaptation, so no there’s no news about the premiere date just yet. Do you think a limited series is the best way to bring Scalzi’s book to the screen?

HT: /Film