Turner's TNT has given a series greenlight to Snowpiercer, a futuristic thriller based on the acclaimed movie of the same name. The series stars Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind), Tony Award and Grammy Award winner Daveed Diggs (Hamilton, Black-ish), Mickey Sumner (American Made), Susan Park (Ghostbusters), Benjamin Haigh (The Conjuring 2), Sasha Frolova (The Interestings), Katie McGuinness (Dirty Filthy Love), Alison Wright (The Accountant), Annalise Basso (Bedtime Stories), Sam Otto (Jellyfish), Roberto Urbina (Netflix's Narcos), Sheila Vand (Argo) and Tony Award winner and Grammy nominee Lena Hall (All My Children). Here's what Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming for TNT, had to say in a statement.

"I'm a personal fan of Bong Joon Ho's epic film, and jumped at the chance to honor his original vision, yet expand upon the world and characters with a diverse, award-winning cast. Science fiction is the perfect genre to examine issues of race, class, gender and natural resources with thought-provoking and exciting storytelling. Snowpiercer will explore those relevant issues while embarking on a wild, action-filled ride."

Set seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity, who inhabit a gigantic, perpetually-moving train that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival are questioned in this riveting television adaptation. Connelly will play Melanie Cavill, a First Class passenger who works as the Voice of the Train, responsible for making the daily announcements over its PA system. Though many in her VIP position are dismissive of the lower class passengers, Melanie is curiously fascinated by them. Diggs will star as Layton Well, a prisoner barely surviving the harsh conditions in the tail end of the train. A quiet thinker who spends his days sniffing the industrial-waste-turned-drug Chronole and tending to his cage full of rats, Layton becomes a reluctant participant in a struggle that could upend life on the train. Here's what Marty Adelstein, CEO of Tomorrow Studios, added in his statement.

"Given the exceptional global appeal of the original film, we have a tremendous obligation to ensure the TV adaptation is exceptional in scope and magnitude. We have found that with TNT and with our talented cast. Now we are excited to work together in creating a world unlike any other on television."

Snowpiercer is a co-production of Tomorrow Studios and Turner's Studio T, along with CJ Entertainment. The pilot was directed by Scott Derrickson and was written by Josh Friedman (Avatar 4, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). The series is executive produced by Tomorrow Studios' Marty Adelstein (Aquarius, Prison Break, Teen Wolf) and Becky Clements (Good Behavior, Aquarius, Last Man Standing); and the original film's Bong Joon Ho, Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun and Dooho Choi. No production schedule has been given at this time, and there is no indication as to when the series may air on TNT. The original Snowpiercer movie starred Chris Evans, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris, Alison Pill, Octavia Spencer, Ewen Bremner and Luke Pasqualino.