Our good pal (and Cinematical writer) Kevin Kelly just passed along the hot-off-the-presses news that Bryan Singer will executive produce a new 2012-related TV show for the SyFy network. The untitled show will be a 6-hour limited series to be written by Michael Petroni (Chronicles of Narnia: The Dawn Treader, Masters of Science Fiction: The Awakening, Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys) and Michael Bond (Passengers) -- and it will follow a down-on-his-luck author/professor who goes on a National Treasure-like worldwide adventure trying to "uncover the mysteries surrounding the Mayan Calendar and the potential apocalypse it seems to have predicted centuries ago." It's sort of like The Da Vinci Code meets National Treasure meets 2012.

Singer exec produced the channel's 2005 miniseries The Triangle (which I did not watch), and with 2012 coming out this year in theaters and with the actual year approaching, now seems like the right time to exploit the ancient Mayan prophecy for all it's worth. On the show itself, Singer says, "I have always been fascinated by the various myths and conspiracy theories surrounding the Mayan Calendar. It's the most accurate calendar created by man, so accurate that many believe its origins may lie elsewhere. Regardless of what you believe, what is truly mysterious about this, is that a number of cultures and religions, including Hinduism, all point toward a period of great upheaval which happens to coincide with the final month and year marked by the calendar. Our story will explore whether we are truly alone in the universe, and other related mysteries, all of which are set against the backdrop of an incredibly exciting and fast-paced adventure."

Check out the full press release after the jump.

Syfy announced today that it will re-team with director/producer Bryan Singer (Superman Returns, X-Men) who executive produced the Channel's 2005 miniseries The Triangle and producer Andrew Deane (Masters of Horror, Masters of Science Fiction, Fear Itself) and Keith Addis to develop an untitled 6-hour limited series to be written by Michael Petroni (Chronicles of Narnia: The Dawn Treader, Masters of Science Fiction: The Awakening, Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys) and Michael Bond (Passengers).

The announcement was made by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Content, Syfy & Co-Head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. Syfy is developing the project with Singer's Bad Hat Harry Productions and Addis and Deane of Industry Entertainment.

The project will be a thrilling action-adventure story blending scientific fact and myth with popular conspiracy theories centering on the Mayan Calendar and what it predicts for mankind at its end date. With a feel of DaVinci Code and National Treasure, it tells the story of a down-on-his-luck author/professor who goes on a worldwide adventure to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Mayan Calendar and the potential apocalypse it seems to have predicted centuries ago. With an unlikely team, he races against time to prevent global catastrophe, and in doing so, ultimately rediscovers his faith in humanity and himself.

"We're very excited to be back in business with Bryan once again, and feel this project, with the producing expertise of Keith and Andrew and the writing flair of Michael Petroni and Michael Bond, promises to be a real thrill ride," said Mark Stern. "Given the debate, speculation and mystery surrounding the subject matter, it couldn't be more timely."

"I have always been fascinated by the various myths and conspiracy theories surrounding the Mayan Calendar," said Bryan Singer. "It's the most accurate calendar created by man, so accurate that many believe its origins may lie elsewhere. Regardless of what you believe, what is truly mysterious about this, is that a number of cultures and religions, including Hinduism, all point toward a period of great upheaval which happens to coincide with the final month and year marked by the calendar. Our story will explore whether we are truly alone in the universe, and other related mysteries, all of which are set against the backdrop of an incredibly exciting and fast-paced adventure."

"Michael Petroni is a brilliant writer, and when he and Michael Bond brought us this idea, we new instantly that it had the potential to be incredibly provocative, intelligent, and entertaining event programming," said Andrew Deane.