Game of ThronesauthorGeorge R.R. Martinrevealed on hisofficial websitetoday that Cinemax has ordered a pilot for a TV series based on his 1980s novellaThe Skin Trade. The author confirmed that he will not write the script for the show, or serve as the showrunner, because he is too busy finishing his sixthGame of Thronesnovel which fans have been eagerly awaiting for years.The Skin Tradecentered on Willie Flambeaux, a collections agent who happens to be a werewolf, and his friend, Randi Wade, a private investigator, who discover a dark secret behind a series of grisly murders in their decaying industrial city. Here’s whatGeorge R.R. Martinhad to say about the new series on hisofficial website.
“The Skin Tradehas had a storied, and complex, publishing history. It was originally written forNight Vision 5, the fifth volume of the prestigious annual horror anthology from the late lamented small press Dark Harvest, where it appeared together with original contributions from Dan Simmons andStephen King, some stellar company. The novella was very well received, and went on to win that year’s World Fantasy Award.”
The Skin Tradewas initially pitched as a movie by producer Mark B. Newbauer, who acquired it through his Mike the Pike Productions several years ago.George R.R. Martinalso revealed that Kalinda Vazquez has signed on to write the script for the upcoming series, and she will also serve as a producer. Here’s another excerpt from the author’s official site.
“More recently, the novella was purchased by Mike the Pike Productions, who played a big part in taking the project to Cinemax. To handle the adaptation, script the pilot, and produce the show (should we get a greenlight), we’ve tapped a terrific talented young scriptwriter named Kalinda Vazquez, whose previous credits include work onPrison BreakandOnce Upon a Time. That was not an easy choice. Cinemax and my agents set me up for meetings with close to a dozen different TV writers, many of them very impressive, but 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. I love her enthusiasm, and look forward to working with her. And no, while I would have loved to write the script and run the show myself myself, that was never really in the cards. I have this book to finish. You know the one. So…The Skin Trade… coming to your TV set, er, eventually. Maybe. Howl for it.”
George R.R. Martinrevealed that he had always envisionedThe Skin Tradeas a TV series, and that he actually tried to sell it as aTV seriesback in 1991.Deadlinereports thatGeorge R.R. Martinand Kalinda Vazquez will executive produce with Vince Gerardis, Paul Sansone, Rich Angell, Mark B. Newbauer andLizandro Cruz. Kalinda Vazquez’s other credits includeHuman TargetandNikita. Are you looking forward toThe Skin Trade?
