Lionsgate TV to Create Mars Colony Reality Show [Updated]

IN SPACE - AUGUST 26: This image released August 27, 2003 captured by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope shows a close-up of the red planet Mars when it was just 34,648,840 miles (55,760,220 km) away. This color image was assembled from a series of exposures taken between 6:20 p.m. and 7:12 p.m. EDT August 26, 2003 with Hubble’s Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2. The picture was taken just 11 hours before the planet made its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years. Many small, dark, circular impact craters can be seen, attesting to the Hubble telescope’s ability to reveal fine detail on the planet’s surface. (Photo by NASA/Getty Images) Photo: NASA/Getty Images

There are few things we enjoy more in the description of a reality show than the words “eccentric Dutch billionaire entrepreneur,” which is the wonderful phrase Deadline used to refer to Mars One founder Bas Lansdorp. Mars One has just teamed up with Lionsgate TV to chronicle the organization’s plan to train and send astronauts on a one-way journey to colonize Mars by 2024. While the series has yet to be given a title, we’re pretty sure for the first few seasons at least it will just be referred to as “that reality show were all those poor people died on the way to Mars.”

Update: Lansdorp has denied the Deadline report, telling Vulture, “Mars One is not aware of a deal with Lionsgate, so we are quite surprised to read about it.”

Update #2: This morning, Lansdorp sent the following clarification: “Mars One has negotiated with Lionsgate and we are eagerly awaiting the contract. Mars One will make a more detailed announcement when a contract is signed.”