Spike TV has announced a partnership with producer Vince Gerardis to develop an original series based on Kim Stanley Robinson's trilogy of Mars novels. As co-executive producer of Game of Thrones, Gerardis is no stranger to large-scale television adaptations.

Titled Red Mars, the series tells the story of man's attempt to colonize and terraform the red planet. According to the cable channel, the sci-fi drama will "focus on the core question at the heart of the novels -- what is it to be human when we are no longer of earth? Are we not then Martians?"

Sharon Levy, Spike TV's executive vice president of original series, acknowledged this central question, saying: "This series shines a light onto many views of what it means to be human -- and asks if can we sustain our humanity under incredible duress."

"There are many homes for large canvas television these days," Gerardis said in a statement. "It inspires me that Sharon has offered her network as home for this and provided a canvas for me to bring the world created in these books to the screen."

The announcement continues Spike TV's return to scripted content. Red Mars will follow in the footsteps of 2015's Tut -- the network's first scripted event series in seven years.