Get ready, Game of Thrones fans: Wild Cards is coming. Hulu has scooped up the sprawling 24-book series, penned by more than 40 authors and edited by Thrones author George R.R. Martin, and is developing two shows set in its universe.
In the Wild Cards world, an alien virus capable of reconfiguring people’s DNA was released in New York City in 1946. The majority of people who contracted the virus died, and those who survived were split into two groups: Jokers, whose brushes with the virus resulted in debilitating conditions, and Aces, whose infection gave them superhuman powers.
The series, which began releasing installments in 1987, is largely set in the present day of this alternate Earth, where descendants of those originally infected now carry the ‘Wild Card virus’ in their genes.
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Variety reports that Hulu is set to open a writers room for the two series. Development of both shows will be run by Andrew Miller, who recently oversaw the TV pilot for SyFy’s reboot of the 1990 cult hit Tremors.
Martin, along with his co-editor Melinda Snodgrass and Game of Thrones producer Vince Gerardis, will executive produce.
Wild Cards is likely not the last large original project Hulu will snap up in the near future. The streaming service hit it big with The Handmaid’s Tale, which became the first digital original show to win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Handmaid‘s third season will probably debut in the first half of 2019, but Hulu needs to rack up some more Ws if it wants to gain ground in an ever more competitive streaming landscape.
The good news is that soon, it might have more cash to do just that. Hulu currently has a trio of owners, but once Disney‘s $52.4 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox is complete, the Mouse House will have a majority stake, and Hulu is in line to get more funding for original content. At least that’s according to Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger, who said in a recent earnings call that there are plans to meet with Hulu’s team after the acquisition’s closure to discuss funds for in-house productions.
