HISTORY(R) GIVES STRAIGHT-TO-SERIES ORDER TO SCRIPTED UFO DRAMA BLUE BOOK FROM A+E STUDIOS AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ROBERT ZEMECKIS

The 10-episode series cracks open true case files from a top secret government project

New York, NY - May 25, 2017 - HISTORY(R) has given a 10-episode straight-to-series order to the original scripted drama Blue Book from A+E Studios, it was announced today by Paul Buccieri, President, A+E Studios and A+E Networks Portfolio Group.

Executive produced by Academy Award and Golden Globe(R)-winner Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Back to the Future, Contact), Blue Book chronicles the true top secret United States Air Force-sponsored investigations into UFO-related phenomena in the 1950's and 60's known as "Project Blue Book." The series follows Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a brilliant college professor recruited by the U.S. Air Force to spearhead this clandestine operation that researched thousands of cases, many of which were never solved. Each episode will draw from the actual files, blending UFO theories with authentic historical events from one of the most mysterious eras in United States history.

"Blue Book is inspired by the true covert events of an era in American history shrouded in mystery," said 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."

Blue Book marks the fourth original scripted series to join the HISTORY slate and the third scripted series from A+E Studios. The hit drama series SIX, also from A+E Studios, is the #1 new cable series of 2017 for total viewers. The last season of HISTORY's longest-running drama series, Vikings, is currently the number three drama series in all of cable in 2017, behind only The Walking Dead and Major Crimes in total viewers. HISTORY's upcoming drama series Knightfall is produced by A+E Studios in association with Oscar(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominee Jeremy Renner's and Don Handfield's production company The Combine and Midnight Radio. The ten-episode series centers on the Knights Templar, the most powerful, wealthy and mysterious military order of the Middle Ages.

Blue Book is an A+E Studios production in association with Compari Entertainment, a division of ImageMovers. Zemeckis, Jack Rapke (Cast Away, Flight) and Jackie Levine (Allied, The Walk) are executive producers for Compari Entertainment. David O'Leary serves as creator and writer. Arturo Interian is the executive in charge of production for HISTORY.

A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights for Blue Book.

ABOUT A+E STUDIOS

A+E Studios is the studio unit of the award-winning global media company A+E Networks, LLC. A+E Studios creates, produces and distributes high quality scripted programming across all networks and platforms in the A+E Networks portfolio, including A&E(R) Network, Lifetime(R), History(R), LMN(R), FYI(TM), and A&E IndieFilms(R). A+E Studios' slate of programming consists of scripted series, event series and movies, including the Peabody Award-winning UnREAL for Lifetime; the event miniseries ROOTS, the hit action drama SIX, and the upcoming series Knightfall for History, among others. Following its first full production year, A+E Studios received 16 Primetime Emmy(R) nominations including Outstanding Limited Series for ROOTS.

ABOUT HISTORY(R)

HISTORY(R), now reaching more than 96 million homes, is the leading destination for award-winning series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network's all-original programming slate features a roster of signature series including Pawn Stars, American Pickers, The Curse of Oak Island, Alone as well as the hit drama series Vikings and SIX. The HISTORY website is located at history.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/history and Facebook at facebook.com/history.