Apple TV Plus has given a May 5 premiere date for its upcoming drama series Silo, starring Rebecca Ferguson.

The 10-episode series, based on Hugh Howey’s best-selling trilogy of dystopian novels, follows the last 10,000 people on earth who are living in a mile-deep space protecting them from the toxic and deadly world outside, according to the streaming service. No one knows when or why the silo was built, and anyone who tries to find out faces fatal consequences.

The series stars Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, David Oyelowo, Rashida Jones and Tim Robbins.

Silo is executive produced by Ferguson, Graham Yost, Morten Tyldum, Hugh Howey, Nina Jack, Fred Golan, Remi Aubuchon and Ingrid Escajeda. Apple TV Plus will debut the first two episodes May 5, followed by one new episode weekly, according to the service. ■ 

National Geographic Channel has ordered a pilot script for the David Oyelowo-helmed The Black 22s, the network said Tuesday.

The Black 22s (working title) focuses on the first all-black police squad based in St. Louis that battled Prohibition-era crime while being set up to fail by their own bosses during one of the most racially charged times in history, said network officials.

Oyelowo (Selma) will serve as executive producer of the series along with  Paul Guyot (TNT’s The Librarians) John Rogers (The Librarians) and Jennifer Court. Guyot will pen the pilot script and serve as showrunner for the series.

"This pitch gave me goosebumps from beginning to end. It is a moving, muscular and resonant story that perfectly exemplifies the adage that truth is stranger and more compelling than fiction,” said executive vice president of global scripted programming & production, Carolyn Bernstein. “It also represents the kind of timely and provocative storytelling that I hope will become a hallmark of Nat Geo’s new scripted initiative."