Two key Gotham producers are poised to explore the world of Metropolis.

Warner Bros. Digital Networks has greenlighted a 13-episode, straight-to-series live-action drama called Metropolis. The series, which will launch on the forthcoming DC Digital Service in 2019, is being written by Gotham's John Stephens and directed by Danny Cannon.

Set in the so-called City of Tomorrow before the arrival of Superman, Metropolis follows Lois Lane and Lex Luthor as they investigate the world of fringe science and expose the city’s dark and bizarre secrets. Production will begin this year for a debut on the service in 2019. Casting has not yet begun. The series is based on DC Comics characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series hails from Warner Bros. Television.

Metropolis is the fourth series for the forthcoming DC digital service. It joins live-action drama Titans, from Warner Bros. Television and Greg Berlanti; and a pair of animated series from Warner Bros. Animation — Harley Quinn and Young Justice: Outsiders. The DC digital service is poised to launch this year. For their part, Stephens and Cannon are well-versed in world-building prequels, having both executive produced Fox's DC Comics/Warner Bros. Television Batman drama Gotham.

Metropolis becomes the latest live-action series to explore the world best known for Superman. Warner Bros. Television and DC are also teaming with Syfy for Krypton, a prequel series launching in March that is centered on Superman's grandfather.