'2012' television series in the works

NEW YORK, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- German-born director Roland Emmerich says a U.S. television series is being planned to follow up his new global disaster flick "2012."

Co-starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet and Oliver Platt, the science-fiction movie was penned by Emmerich and Harald Kloser. The pair produced the film with Mark Gordon and Larry Franco.

"(The idea for a series) was just born out of, in a way, like Harald and I and Mark Gordon, who is big in TV, saying, 'Wouldn't it be an incredible TV show like 'Lost?'" Emmerich told UPI in New York Thursday.

Asked if the "2012" series will follow some of the surviving characters introduced in the movie, Emmerich replied: "No, no. It would have to be new characters. When you do a spinoff, you don't want to have the same characters."

Emmerich said he will serve as executive producer on the show.

"2012" opens in the United States Nov. 13.