Halle Berry TV Series Gets Green Light

Actress Halle Berry will star in an “out of this world” television show next summer.

Berry will play the lead role as an astronaut in Extant, a 13-episode sci-fi series executive produced by Steven Spielberg that will air on CBS Television. Spielberg’s production company Amblin Television also is responsible for Under The Dome, which became a summer hit for CBS and will return next year.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Berry’s character “returns home from a year-long solo mission in space and tries to reconnect with her husband and son in their everyday life. Her experiences in space and home lead to events that ultimately will change the course of human history.”

CBS reportedly spent years trying to sign Berry for other TV roles including Homeland on CBS-owned Showtime. Primarily known for her work on the big screen, the Catwoman and X-Men star won an Oscar for her performance in Monster’s Ball.

In a statement, Halle Berry said that “I’m always on the lookout for amazing roles and when you see material that contains this strong of auspices, nuance, and complexity it compels me to run toward it no matter the medium. For five months a year I’ll get to live with and play this incredibly intelligent and vulnerable woman, and for the remainder of the year I’ll continue to look for other roles that move me as deeply as this one.”

Spielberg seemed pretty happy about the whole thing too. “There’s only one Halle Berry and we are incredibly honored that she has chosen Extant to expand her illustrious career. As she does with everything she touches, she will bring a deep authenticity to her role and I very much look forward to working with her.”

As we previously reported, Berry recently agreed to star in the independent film comedy Mother, which is scheduled to begin filming in 2014.

Currently pregnant with her second child, Halle Berry married French actor Olivier Martinez in July.

[Image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]