Lois Lane and Lex Luthor will be the main characters in the Metropolis TV show

Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment today announced that Gotham executive producers John Stephens and Danny Cannon will explore the world of Metropolis in an all-new live-action drama series to air exclusively on the upcoming DC-branded direct-to-consumer digital service, operated by Warner Bros. Digital Networks. Metropolis has received a direct-to-series order for a first season of 13 episodes and will go into production later this year for a debut on the service in 2019.

Set in the wondrous and awe-inspiring City of Tomorrow before the arrival of Superman, Metropolis follows Lois Lane and Lex Luthor as they investigate the world of fringe science and expose the city’s dark and bizarre secrets.

John Stephens (Gotham, Gossip Girl, The O.C., Gilmore Girls) and Danny Cannon (Gotham, Nikita, CSI series) are the executive producers of Metropolis. Danny Cannon will direct the first episode, from a teleplay by John Stephens, with story by Cannon and Stephens. Based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC, Metropolis is produced by Warner Bros. Television.

The order for Metropolis marks the fourth announced series for the new DC digital service, which will deliver an immersive experience designed just for DC fans. Additional programs include Warner Bros. Television’s live-action drama Titans, as well as Warner Bros. Animation’s Harley Quinn and Young Justice: Outsiders.