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It seems that there is a lot of question on whether or not the British import "Life On Mars" is ready to take on the network grind on ABC, and if the network is even into it.

But ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson says all is well for the series that features a modern-day cop transported back to the 1970s.

"We are actually ahead of schedule with new scripts in hand and production is set to go," McPherson told MediaWeek. "We wouldn't be promoting the show so heavily if it weren't going to air. The reports to the contrary are false."

"Life On Mars" was created by Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah for BBC back in 2006 that starred John Simm, who many genre fans should recognize as the most recent actor to play The Master in "Doctor Who."

David E. Kelley, of "Ally McBeal" and "The Practice" fame, held the American rights to the series, and even tried to get Simm along with co-star Philip Glenister to star in the American version. Instead, the series stars Jason O'Mara as Sam Tyler and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" veteran Colm Meaney as Gene Hunt.

Kelley, however, left the production after the pilot in what some said was a sign of dark times ahead for the show. However, other reports indicate that Kelley relinquished control of "Life On Mars" to instead convince ABC to give him one more season of "Boston Legal," which apparently had been on the network's chopping block.

With that, production of the show moved from Los Angeles to new York, and some of the cast members were replaced, although it's believe that Meaney is still on board.

It will premiere Sept. 25 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

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