Fox has made its first series order of pilot season, and it is for The Passage, based on Justin Cronin’s book trilogy of the same name.

It is described as an epic, character‐driven thriller about a secret government medical facility experimenting with a dangerous virus that could either cure all disease or cause the downfall of the human race. It focuses on a 10‐year‐old girl named Amy Bellafonte (Saniyya Sidney), who is chosen to be a test subject for this experiment, and Brad Wolgast (Mark‐Paul Gosselaar), the federal agent who becomes her surrogate father as he tries to protect her.

Vincent Piazza, Brianne Howey, Jamie McShane, Caroline Chikezie and Emmanuelle Chriqui also star.

The series was originally looked at as an off-cycle pickup, but the network wanted extensive reshoots and retooling. Three characters were also recast. After the fixes, the show became a major favorite at Fox.

As the first pilot picked up by Fox, it joins confirmed returning series 911, Empire, The Gifted, The Orville, The Resident and The Simpsons on the schedule.