Twentieth Century Fox has preemptively bought the film rights to the sci-fi noir novel The Dark Side, which will be published worldwide by Simon and Schuster next spring. In this elevated futuristic thriller by author Anthony O’Neill, the moon is used as a penal colony housing a variety of criminals as well as “curious” tourists. When there’s trouble caused by an anarchic android and people start turning up dead, an exiled detective is called upon to investigate.

The project is being planned as something along the lines of iconic sci-fi adventures like Avatar and Blade Runner.

This Frankfurt Book Fair title is obviously a hot property. Fox didn’t hesitate to scoop it up ahead of competing studios.

Many details are unclear at this early stage, but we know the film will be produced by Steve Zaillian and his Film Rites partner Garrett Basch, both of whom have worked on the TV series Criminal Justice. The duo are also collaborating on the upcoming HBO series, Crime.

Zaillian is best known as a screenwriter. In addition to his most recent script—for Ridley Scott’s upcoming film Exodus Gods and Kings—Zaillian has a long list of impressive titles, including Schindler’s List, Mission Impossible and Moneyball. A screenwriter for this movie has not yet been announced.