'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin has a new TV show in the works

George R. R. Martin holding and kissing his Emmy award statue in a striped black suit
Culture

Yet another thrilling George R.R. Martin creation is coming to TV screens. Variety reported that Syfy has ordered a pilot based on the Game of Thrones author's 1980 novella, Nightflyers.

The novella's first adaptation, a 1987 movie of the same name, drew poor reviews and barely grossed $1 million. But the story itself — a suspenseful, gory tale set in space that could be described as Aliens but with a sentient computer in lieu of actual aliens — holds up. (One possible tagline: "Space is dark and full of terrors?")

Jeff Buhler, who penned the upcoming remake of 1990's Jacob's Ladder, has signed on to write Syfy's adaptation of Nightflyers. Martin is not directly involved with the adaptation, since he continues to serve as executive producer on HBO's Game of Thrones. He is also currently working on two of the network's four potential Thrones spinoffs.

The announcement of the pilot comes after Syfy's recent rebranding in celebration of its 25th anniversary. In addition to developing Happy!, which stars Chris Meloni as a down-and-out cop who befriends an imaginary, blue-winged horse, Syfy is adapting the famous sci-fi classics Brave New World and Stranger in a Strange Land.

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