As expected, Syfy has given a 12-episode series order to "The Magicians," based on the bestselling fantasy novels by Lev Grossman.

The series stars Jason Ralph ("A Most Violent Year," "Aquarius") as Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant and withdrawn young man recruited as a student at the mysterious Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy in Upstate New York, where he discovers that the Narnia-like world from a series of children’s books he loved as a child is all too real and poses a danger to humanity.

Stella Maeve ("Chicago P.D."), Hale Appleman ("Teeth"), Arjun Gupta ("Nurse Jackie") and Summer Bishil ("Towelhead," "Lucky 7") also star in the one-hour drama.

Produced by Universal Cable Productions, the pilot was written by John McNamara (Prime Suspect) and Sera Gamble (Supernatural); Michael London (Milk) is producing with Janice Williams (All Good Girls). The pilot was filmed in New Orleans, but the subsequent episodes will begin shooting in July in Vancouver.

"Ever since ‘The Magicians’ was published I’ve wanted to see this story on screen,” Grossman said in a statement. “The people, the school, the other worlds, the magic. I’m so thrilled that it’s finally happening, and I’m beyond thrilled that we found the right people to do it. Get ready; you’ve never seen anything like this."