The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that HBO has ordered a pilot for a fantasy series to be called Game of Thrones. Based on George R.R. Martin‘s A Song of Fire & Ice series, the television series will take its name from the title of the first book. The pilot will be executive produced by David Benioff (Ender’s Game), D.B. Weiss (Halo), and Guymon Casady (Cavemen).
Talking about the rarity of true fantasy series on television, Benioff said “Fantasy is the most successful genre in terms of feature films, given the incredible popularity of the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies. High fantasy has never been done on TV before, and if anybody can do it, it’s HBO.”
THR goes on to say “the cost of producing a fantasy series is usually a favtor that deters networks,” but in this case, it might be feasible, because it’s written as “a character drama and major battles often take place offstage.”
Weiss continued “It’s not a story with a million orcs charging across the plains. The most expensive effects are creature effects, and there’s not much of that.”
A Song of Fire & Ice is expected to run to seven novels, and if HBO picks up the series, the producers plan for each novel to be one season on screen.