HBO To Develop Series Based on George R.R. Martin's Fantasy Novels
Posted on January 18, 2007
Variety reports that HBO has acquired the rights to turn George R.R. Martin's seven part fantasy series "A Song of Fire & Ice" into a tv project. Variety says HBO's plan is to turn each novel into a season's worth of episodes. The HBO series will begin with the first book in the series, A Game of Thrones.
HBO has acquired the rights to turn George R.R. Martin's bestselling fantasy series "A Song of Fire & Ice" into a dramatic series to be written and exec produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.HBO is known for compelling shows like Rome, Carnivale, The Sopranos and Deadwood so they should be one of the best networks to turn to for producing a fantasy series based on George R.R. Martin's books. George R. R. Martin says he is "thrilled to be in business with HBO." You can read more of his thoughts here on his news page. You can also read more about the series on his official website."Fire" is the first TV project for Benioff ("Troy") and Weiss ("Halo") and will shoot in Europe or New Zealand. Benioff and Weiss will write every episode of each season together save one, which the author (a former TV writer) will script.
The series will begin with the 1996 first book, "A Game of Thrones," and the intention is for each novel (they average 1,000 pages each) to fuel a season's worth of episodes. Martin has nearly finished the fifth installment, but won't complete the seven-book cycle until 2011.
The author will co-exec produce the series along with Management 360's Guymon Casady and Created By's Vince Gerardis.