The British science fiction series Primeval - which returns to North American screens this month - is heading for cinemas, according to the UK newspaper The Sun. There is no word yet on personnel or plot, so it is not known whether the original cast will feature.

Primeval follows the adventures of a team of scientists that investigate the appearance in modern day Britain of prehistoric and future animals. The animals arrive in the present through time portals called "anomalies". The third season of the show, which premiered on Britain's ITV network in late March, also entered seemingly supernatural territory with a story that featured a demon-like creature that was hiding in an empty house.

According to The Sun, the production company behind Primeval, Impossible Pictures, will begin work with Warner Brothers on the new film later this year.

"Sci-fi is huge business in Hollywood but the stories have to be right," an unnamed insider is quoted as saying. "Primeval is a fresh approach to the genre so will be something different for audiences. The show’s already proved it has a big following on ITV, and that’s what pricked Hollywood’s ears up."

The cast of Primeval includes series regulars Douglas Henshall (as the group's leader Professor Nick Cutter), Hannah Spearritt (Abby Maitland), Ben Miller (government official Sir James Lester) and Andrew-Lee Potts (Connor Temple). Jason Flemyng (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Laila Rouass (Footballers' Wives) join the cast for the third season. Flemyng plays Danny Quinn, a maverick policeman drawn into the mystery by his brother’s death and Rouass plays an Egyptologist, Sarah Page.

Recently the co-creator of the series, Adrian Hodges had to dismiss rumours that the third season would be the show's last season due to the high cost of production.

"This is absolutely not the case," Hodges told the website Total Sci-Fi. "Impossible Pictures have been in regular contact with ITV and all the indications are that provided ratings remain strong we will return for a fourth series. As of this moment no final decision has been taken - as we knew it wouldn't be - but we are very confident about the future of the show. ITV always said they would look at the recommission at some point towards the end of the run or later and that remains absolutely the position."

Hodges' words were backed up by a spokesperson for ITV in quotes published in the South Wales Evening Post.

"It's not true, it's not going to be axed, it just hasn't been recommissioned and it is not unusual to wait for a series to run before considering recommission."

In addition to making the leap to the big screen, Primeval may also be getting a makeover as a North American television series. The Sun reported that writer/producer Jeph Loeb (Smallville, Lost, Heroes) has been hired to adapt the show.

Season Three of Primeval will begin airing on Space in Canada on May 13 and on BBC America in the United States on May 16. Space will also be making episodes available online after broadcast.