Scientists have long speculated about the possibility of life on Mars owing to the planet's proximity and similarity to Earth. It remains an open question whether life exists on Mars now, or existed there in the past.

Life on Mars is an American version of the BBC show of the same name. It is being produced by David E. Kelley for the ABC network, and was targeted for the 2007-08 TV midseason until being delayed by the 2007-2008 writers' strike. "Mr Kelley will write and executive produce a pilot for the 60-minute ABC version of BBC1's hit 70s cop drama, which is likely to be broadcast in autumn 2008 if it gets a full series commission." According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Rachelle Lefèvre has been cast as the female lead of "the lone female detective in the department" who "forges a mystic bond with the mysterious detective and teams with him to track a serial killer". (This character is named Annie Cartwright and played by Liz White in the British version.) This report also indicated that the American series will take place in 1972 rather than 1973.

Irish Television is reporting that Irish actor Jason O'Mara is to play Sam Tyler in this version of Life on Mars.

Colm Meaney will play the character of Gene Hunt , and stated in a November 2007 interview with Rotten Tomatoes that the pilot has now completed shooting. The US remake has been set in a 1972 Los Angeles, and Meaney suggests that the 2007-2008 writers' strike has delayed the US version of Life on Mars from being picked up for production.

The original BBC series took its name from the David Bowie (I) song, "Life on Mars".