C Four are set to air a new French science-fiction drama series named \'Missions\'.
The new ten part series will mark the first international drama aired by the channel - which it acquired from AB International Distribution - and the production will depict the first-ever manned journey to Mars launched by the Swiss billionaire William Meyer, who will be portrayed by Mathias Mlekuz.
Helene Vivies will also star in the production, which was created by Henri Debeurme, Julien Lacombe and Ami Cohen, as she has been cast as one of the eight astronauts who accompanied Meyer on his voyage.
The programme will follow the 10 month space journey and explore the moment Meyer and his team were overtaken by a rival American mission in a bid to be the first men to land on the planet.
But after receiving a distress call from their rivals, the French team\'s mission became a rescue attempt.
However, when the group landed they discovered a survivor who wasn\'t from the American spacecraft and was, in fact, a Russian named Vladimir Komarov, who died on a previous mission back in 1967.
And the broadcasting channel are "excited" to bring the "tense, taught drama" to their network.
The editor of BBC Four, Cassian Harrison, said: "After travelling the globe with our international dramas, it\'s exciting to now head off into space to a planet as yet unexplored.
"\'Missions\' is tense, taught drama at its finest and it\'s a real honour to be showing it on BBC Four."
And AB International\'s Valerie Vleeschhouwer is also "thrilled" BBC Four will be broadcasting the new drama.
She said: "We are thrilled about the upcoming broadcast of \'Missions\' on BBC Four and that the network has chosen this bold and unique sci-fi series."
The BBC Head of Programme Acquisition, Sue Deeks, believes BBC Four\'s audience will be "glad" when the show hits the screen.
Sue Deeks, BBC Head of Programme Acquisition, said: "Set against a stunning backdrop of outer space, \'Missions\' is very much a human story about a team of remarkable people brought together on the adventure of a lifetime.
"When things don\'t go to plan, a truly original and suspenseful story unfolds. I\'m sure this is a mission BBC Four\'s viewers will be glad they boarded."
