USA Network orders hacker drama 'Mr. Robot' starring Christian Slater

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 19 (UPI) -- USA Network says it has ordered 10 episodes of Mr. Robot, an intense hacker drama starring Christian Slater and Rami Malek.

Co-starring Portia Doubleday, Carly Chaikin and Martin Wallstrom, the program will air during the 2015-16 television season. It was created by writer and executive producer Sam Esmail.

The pilot was directed by Niels Arden Oplev and the series will shoot in New York.

"Mr. Robot could not be more timely and relevant," Chris McCumber, the cable network's president, said in a statement Friday. "The creative team behind this series has done a brilliant job, taking viewers on a wild ride that leaves them wanting more. Rami gives a masterful performance as a hacker and unlikely hero, alongside Christian, who is perfectly cast as Mr. Robot."

"Sam's vision for Mr. Robot is terrific and transgressive, and Niels has given the show a breathtakingly original look," added Jeff Wachtel, president and chief content officer for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment.

A synopsis describes the show as "a contemporary and culturally resonant drama about a young programmer, Elliot, who suffers from a debilitating anti-social disorder and decides that he can only connect to people by hacking them.

"He wields his skills as a weapon to protect the people that he cares about. Elliot will find himself in the intersection between a cybersecurity firm he works for and the underworld organizations that are recruiting him to bring down corporate America. Slater stars in the title role of Mr. Robot, a mysterious anarchist who recruits Elliot into an underground hacker group."

The announcement regarding the project arrives shortly after Sony Pictures Entertainment's computer system was actually hacked by the anonymous group known only as the Guardians of Peace, which cited its outrage over the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy The Interview as its motivation. Tens of thousands of private documents -- including copies of unreleased films, screenplays, financial information and personal emails -- were released online. After the organization announced it would attack theaters that screen the film, exhibitors refused to show it, prompting Sony to yank the movie from its release schedule.

The critically panned film starred Rogen and Franco as broadcast journalists enlisted by the CIA to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.