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Fox to revamp acclaimed science series ‘Cosmos’ with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Andrew Couts
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Image used with permission by copyright holder

Science enthusiasts, rejoice! Carl Sagan’s classic television series Cosmos, considered by many to be one of the greatest science series of all-time, is returning to television, reports Deadline.

The Cosmos refresh, officially titled Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey, is being produced by self-professed nerd Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy. And the 13-episode series will be written by Ann Druyam, Carl Sagan’s widow and a writer/producer on the original series, along with astrophysicist Steven Soter.

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Standing in for Sagan as host will be famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Having Tyson onboard with the new series not only ensures that it will be up to snuff for even the most avid science fans, but his relative celebrity (he’s been on The Colbert Report multiple times, for instance) should help draw in viewers.

Perhaps the most peculiar thing about the new Cosmos is where and when it will be airing. Rather than appearing on a channel like Discovery or National Geographic, Cosmos will run on none other than Fox (not known for its promotion of science), and will reportedly have a primetime slot — a rare thing for a show devoted toward serious scientific thought.

The deal with Fox is reportedly due to MacFarlane’s long-running relationship with 20th Century Fox, which helped him create the Family Guy franchise.

“Never more than at this moment in the modern era have we needed a profound reminder of the colossally important and exciting role that science, space exploration and the human quest for knowledge must continue to play in our development as a species,” said MacFarlane in a statement.

“We should be vigorously exploring the solar system by now, and who better to inspire us to get there than Ann Druyan, Steven Soter, Neil deGrasse Tyson and, of course, Carl Sagan.”

The show’s producers tell Deadline that the new Cosmos will tell “the story of how human beings began to comprehend the laws of nature and find our place in space and time. It will take viewers to other worlds and travel across the universe for a vision of the cosmos on the grandest scale. The most profound scientific concepts will be presented with stunning clarity, uniting skepticism and wonder, and weaving rigorous science with the emotional and spiritual into a transcendent experience.”

Cosmos is set to air sometime in 2013.

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Andrew Couts
Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
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