Lifetime's 'The Lottery' Is Set In World Where Women Can't Have Children

Lifetime is going dark and dystopian with its latest scripted acquisition. The network has given a 10-episode order to "The Lottery," a drama set in a time when women have stopped having children. With the human race facing extinction, there is sudden hope. After 100 embryos are successfully fertilized, a national lottery is established to decide who will be the surrogate mothers.

"'The Lottery' is one of the most provocative and original concepts we've ever seen," said Rob Sharenow, executive vice president and general manager of Lifetime. "[Creator] Tim Sexton's unique dystopian thriller represents an exciting new direction for Lifetime and continues cable's position on the leading edge of bold, high-quality scripted drama."

The series manages to stay true to the female demographic at the heart of Lifetime's viewership, while appearing to eschew the more melodramatic soap opera elements of the network's other shows like "Devious Maids" and "Witches of East End." In other words, "The Lottery" could help Lifetime mature as a network.