'Twilight Zone' Play Gets World Premiere in London in December (Exclusive)

Olivier-winning director Richard Jones helms the new show based on CBS' sci-fi classic.

The Twilight Zone is headed to the stage.

A new play based on the classic CBS sci-fi series is set to debut at the end of the year, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. The production will make its world premiere at the Almeida Theatre in London. Previews begin Dec. 5. The limited engagement is set to run through Jan. 27.

Olivier-winning director Richard Jones helms the play, adapted by Anne Washburn. It is presented under license by CBS Consumer Products. Casting will be announced at a later date.

The Twilight Zone ran on CBS from 1959 to 1964, winning three Emmy Awards during its 156-episode run. Created by Rod Serling (who wrote plays before launching the show), its incisive parables explored humanity's hopes, despairs, prides and prejudices. An '80s revival aired on CBS for three seasons, and a UPN reboot in 2002, hosted by Forest Whitaker, ran for one season.

"The Twilight Zone was an ingenious mixture of morality tales, fables and fantasy that are as relevant today as when they first aired,” said Veronica Hart, svp, CBS Consumer Products. "The play allows these powerful stories to be experienced in an entirely new way in order to reach a whole new audience."

"Anne Washburn and Richard Jones have devised a show that honours the writing of Serling and his closest collaborators, Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson," added producer Ron Fogelman. "They have created a new journey into the heartland of the imagination — the stage."