History to open Blue Book with Robert Zemeckis

US cable channel History has ordered a straight-to-series drama from Forrest Gump director Robert Zemeckis.

The Academy Award-winner is executive producer on Blue Book, which will run to ten episodes.

History cousin A+E Networks will produce the series, which will chronicle top secret United States Air Force-sponsored investigations into UFOs in the mid-20^th century.

It will centre on a brilliant college professor who is recruited to lead the clandestine operation, with each episode drawing on actual files.

A+E Studios is producing in association with Compari Entertainment, which is part of ImageMovers. A+E holds international distribution rights.

Zemeckis, Jacke Rapke (Flight) and Jackie Levine are executive producers, and David O’Leary is creator and writer.

Arturo Interian leading production for History, which has been pushing into scripted with shows such as Six and Knightfall, and the long-running Vikings.

“Blue Book is inspired by the true covert events of an era in American history shrouded in mystery,” said A+E Networks Portfolio Group and A+E Studios president Paul Buccieri.

“Robert Zemeckis and the creative team have shaped an incredibly compelling narrative, building upon History’s unique, growing brand of fact-based scripted programming.”

“Rarely have I been associated with a project that is a perfect fusion of historical fact and extraordinary entertainment,” said Zemeckis. “We are grateful for A+E Studios’ and History’s support for what I know will be a fabulous series.”