With Game of Thrones set to draw to a close within the next two years, there has been growing hope amongst some fans that a spinoff series might get off the ground at some point but as yet there are no official plans for HBO.
What is likely to happen though, is that another world from the mind of George R.R. Martin is set to be brought to our TV screens.
Wild Cards, is a graphic novel series co-written by Martin and Melinda Snodgrass. It's an alternative history tale that starts off with a virus released over the skies of New York City in 1946. Of those infected, 90% die horribly, drawing the black queen, 9% become twisted and deformed into jokers, while a lucky 1% are blessed with extraordinary and unpredictable powers. The 1% become known as aces.
The series was launched in 1986 and has become a sprawling connected universe of characters and has been written by many different writers. Martin contributes occasionally but has mostly been editing others' tales in recent times. (Well he DOES have another series of books to finish!)
Wild Cards was originally envisioned as a movie, with Universal and SyFy Films buying the rights all the way back in 2011. However it seems a period in development hell has made all involved consider that television is the best place to bring the story to life.
The series is being set up over at Universal Cable Productions in the States. Martin won't be involved directly with the show due to his Game of Thrones duties but co-writer Snodgrass is expected to have a hands on role with the show.