The untitled drama would be the first show he wrote and created since 'Fringe.'

J.J. Abrams, currently immersed in the Star Wars feature film universe, is plotting his return to TV writing.

The prolific writer, producer and director is shopping a space-set spec script that, should it go to series, would be the first show he wrote and created since Fringe in 2008. Sources say Apple and HBO — where Abrams serves as an executive producer on Westworld — are both in the running for the untitled drama, with producers Warner Bros. Television also open to additional bidders as the project is still being shopped. Warners, Apple and HBO all declined comment.

Sources say the Abrams drama is about a family — consisting of a mother who works as a scientist, her husband and their young daughter — who all get into a terrible car crash. After the mother winds up in a coma, her daughter begins digging through her experiments in the basement and winds up being transported to another land amid a world's battle against a monstrous, oppressive force. Her father then follows her into this new world.

Abrams, who created/co-created Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe, penned the script and exec produces via his Warner Bros. Television-based Bad Robot Productions banner topper Ben Stephenson.

Abrams has been active in the TV space as an exec producer, most recently working on HBO's Westworld (with Jonah Nolan and Lisa Joy), Showtime's Roadies (with Cameron Crowe), CBS' Person of Interest (with Nolan) and Hulu mini 11.22.63 (with Bridget Carpenter). He next has Hulu's Stephen King anthology Castle Rock, from writers Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomas, due from Warner Bros. Television.

On the feature side, Abrams is writing and directing Star Wars: Episode IX, and counts the Cloverfield and Star Trek franchises among his credits. He is repped by CAA and Jackoway Tyerman.