Over the past few years, AMC with it’s AMC Original series has rapidly replaced HBO as the go-to cable channel for amazing original programming. They have period drama (‘Mad Men’), crime (‘Breaking Bad’), horror (‘Walking Dead’) and, most recently, western (‘Hell on Wheels’). Now AMC is looking to expand into sci-fi with a new original titled ‘Thunderstruck’.

‘Thunderstruck’ will be an hour long sci-fi drama executive produced by Paul Boardman and Scott Derrickson. The pair is most famous for writing the supernatural thriller ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’. Derrickson has also sat in the directors chair a few times, most notably for the 2008 remake of ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’. Joining Boardman and Derrickson will be David Eick, the ex-executive producer of ‘Battlestar Galactica’. Charlize Theron is attached to the project to star and produce.

‘Thunderstruck’ follows an alien invasion in which intergalactic entities begin popping up around the world. The show will focus on the small town of Great Falls, Montana where one of the entities has arrived, as the townsfolk must deal with the being and its appearances.

If ‘Thunderstruck’ can do with aliens what ‘The Walking Dead’ has with the undead, then this could be a very well received show. AMC has been very successful in bringing drama into unique situations and this show sounds like it fits well into their programming. Derrickson, Boardman and Eick obviously have experience in the genre so that is also a big plus.

No news when the show will premiere but hopefully soon. As usual, we’ll keep you posted as more news emerges.

In addition to ‘Thunderstruck’, Eick is also working on two more genre shows with Guillermo Del Toro. He is developing Marvel Comics’ ‘Hulk’ for ABC and ‘Inhuman’ for HBO.