George RR Martin is well known for his "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga that HBO adapted as a TV series "Game of Thrones," which is also the name of the first volume in the book series. The show went on to rake awards and recognitions, a sprawling fanbase and high-flying ratings. But the bestselling author also wrote other books too, some involving werewolves.
A particular book titled "The Skin Trade" has caught the attention of Cinemax. The network already ordered a pilot script for it but the adaptation isn't guaranteed to hit the small screen yet. But the chances could be big with the werewolf novella reputed as one of the best pieces of werewolf fiction ever written. But Martin doesn't want to promise anything until it's locked in.
"You never know where things will end ... If they like the script, we'll shoot a pilot, and if they like that, hey, who knows, maybe we'll get a series on the air," the novelist wrote on his blog Not a Blog, where he also broke the news. "I have always thought there was a TV series (or maybe a feature film) in Willie Flambeaux and Randi Wade," Martin said, referring to the novella's protagonists.
As detailed by Deadline, Willie is a werewolf by night and a collections agent by day. Randi is a private investigator who was tasked to investigate a chain of gruesome murders in their rotting city where victims are skinned. "The Skin Trade" was published in a horror fiction compilation called "Dark Visions" back in 1989, as per Entertainment Weekly. Other stories in the collection were of Stephen King and Dan Simmons.
Kalinda Vasquez, one of the producers of the ABC fantasy hit "Once Upon A Time," has signed up to produce "The Skin Trade" series adaptation in the event it is transformed into a series. Vasquez caught the attention of the "Game of Thrones" author, who had to talk to a dozen of writers to hear their pitch about the series, with her vision.
"Kalinda's take on the story and the characters blew me away. She loves the story and the world, and really seems to get Willie and Randi, and her pitch to Cinemax was one of the most polished and professional I've ever heard," Martin praised Vasquez. "I love her enthusiasm, and look forward to working with her," he continued.
Meanwhile, Martin also made it clear that he won't be handling the series adaptation because he is still tied up to his desk, completing "Winds of Winter," which is rumored to finally be released early this year.