The Hugo Award-winning novel is being prepped as an event series at Universal Cable Productions, with Rob Morrow and Leslie Urdang attached.

Robert Charles Wilson's best-selling sci-fi novel Spin may be coming to the small screen.

Universal Cable Productions has acquired the rights to the Hugo Award-winning novel with the goal to adapt the post-apocalyptic book as an event series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Bits and Pieces Pictures' Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure, Quiz Show) and Olympus Pictures' Leslie Urdang (Beginners, Rabbit Hole) will produce Spin, the first book in Wilson's trilogy. A network is not currently attached.

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The drama follows three childhood friends who witness the stars in the sky as they mysteriously vanish. NASA probes reveal that a black energy barrier has surrounded Earth, and time is traveling a billion times faster outside of the barrier. Civilization learns that it has five years left before the sun expands and consumes the planet. As the children grow, they go their separate ways trying to save the world from annihilation, but with time running out, will their friendship -- and mankind -- survive?

"Spin is beloved in the sci-fi world for its dynamic characters and engaging story lines. It is the type of critically acclaimed material that we’re seeking to continue diversifying UCP's slate and expand our reach," said evp development Dawn Olmstead. The project marks one of Olmstead's first project commitments since she was tapped to run development at UCP in January.

"I picked up Spin as a holiday read with the notion of reading something for pleasure and instantly knew it had epic zeitgeist appeal," said Morrow, whose producing credits include indie feature Maze and directing episodes of Oz, Necessary Roughness and Numb3rs. "This is a giant fascinating ride that is wholly entertaining, portentous and will speak to all generations worldwide."

Spin marks the latest genre play for UCP, whose credits include Syfy's Defiance, Warehouse 13 and Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome. For Bits and Pieces, the project comes in addition to a new half-hour cable series in the works at the Weinstein Co., which has not yet been announced.

Spin won the Hugo Award -- the annual prize for the best sci-fi or fantasy achievement in books -- in 2006. Wilson is repped by APA and the McCarthy Agency

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com

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