Paramount+ Orders New High-Concept Sci-Fi Thriller Series In Major Genre Expansion

Published Oct 21, 2026, 3:38 PM EDT Jennifer is a TV and Movie News Editor at ScreenRant. She started her journey in entertainment media in 2022 when she first joined Valnet at CBR before coming to ScreenRant. Jennifer loves TV, especially science fiction. She also loves late-night talk shows, due to her insomnia. Alien: Earth is definitely one of her favorite shows, and she jumps on any chance she gets to write about it. Even on her days off, she will claim an Alien Earth article if one is available. Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon are two of her favorite late-night hosts, and Conan O'Brien before he left his show. Her Alien: Earth coverage for ScreenRant is by far the work that she is most proud of so far. She was initially a finance and political editor, but her passion for pop culture convinced her to transition into entertainment journalism. During her off time, she loves to binge-watch cooking shows such as Kitchen Nightmares. Jennifer also loves spending time with her daughter and cherishes every moment of it. Sign in to your ScreenRant account This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.Paramount+ continues to expand its library with a new science fiction series. Paramount+ has added a new sci-fi thriller to its lineup that dives into humanity's first encounter with mysterious alien visitors. The streaming service's new show, Zero Hour, will be written by Matthew Michael Carnahan. The project arrives as the studio continues its apparent efforts to attract new subscribers by creating content that viewers usually wouldn't associate with it. According to Deadline, Paramount+ has secured Zero Hour following a competitive bidding war involving several interested parties. The series is based on a short story by Harrison Query, with Carnahan attached as writer and showrunner. Carnahan has also worked on World War Z and Deepwater Horizon. Anthony and Joe Russo's AGBO, the production company behind Everything Everywhere All at Once and Netflix's Extraction, is producing the project. The upcoming science fiction thriller begins after unexplained oval-shaped objects suddenly appear in the sky, triggering an international crisis. Instead of focusing on a single character, Zero Hour will reportedly follow several people whose lives are turned upside down by the event. More to come...