EXCLUSIVE: Syfy has given a cast-contingent pilot order to 12 Monkeys, a drama series based on the 1995 Universal Pictures/Atlas Entertainment film directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. The 60-minute pilot, produced by Universal Cable Prods and Atlas Entertainment, was written on spec by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett (Terra Nova). It follows the journey of a time traveler from the post-apocalyptic future who appears in present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will eventually decimate the human race. Filming is tentatively slated to begin in November. Atlas’ Charles Roven (The Dark Knight trilogy), who produced the feature, and Richard Suckle will executive produce, with Matalas and Fickett, repped by by ICM Partners and manager Brian Lutz, co-executive producing.

This is Syfy’s second consecutive pilot order to a sci-fi feature adaptation — last month the network greenlighted a 90-minute pilot for Dominion, a drama based on characters from the 2010 feature Legion. 12 Monkeys was among several hot projects at Syfy, which may not be done with its orders (pilot or straight to series.) The other top contenders included Clandestine, from actor-writer Todd Stashwick and artist Dennis Calero; Proof, from Marti Noxon and M. Night Shyamalan; and Sojourn, from Phil Levens, Jason Blum and Lionsgate.