Hulu will develop shows based on George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards – Variety

Hulu develops several series based on the series of books "Wild Cards", which is edited by the screenwriter of "Game of Thrones", George R.R. Martin.

Variety learned from sources that the streamer is set to open a writing room for two broadcasts defined in the "Wild Cards" universe. Universal Cable Productions will produce with Hulu, while Andrew Miller will be ready to write and produce both projects. Miller, who is currently under a global contract with UCP, recently led Syfy's "Tremors" pilot, who saw the return of original movie star Kevin Bacon.

Located in the present, the "Wild Cards" books explore the aftermath of an alien virus released in Manhattan in 1946, which killed 90% of infected people. In the survivors, the DNA has been altered, creating grotesque physical deformities, with the exception of a tiny percentage that develops rather superhuman powers. Called the Wild Card virus, it has been passed from generation to generation and may not be detected until it is suddenly activated by a traumatic event. The wearer is then killed, mutated or endowed with almost divine powers. The effects are largely a manifestation of the victim's emotional state, making her vulnerable to reverence or ridicule on a deeply personal level. Now, after decades of sociological unrest, venerated, oppressed, exploited and ignored, the victims of the virus want to define their own future.

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With Miller, Martin will be executive producer with Melinda Snodgrass – who co-edited the books with Martin – and Vince Gerardis.

The "Wilds Cards" books were first published in 1987, with more than 40 authors contributing to the series at that time. To date, more than two dozen books in the series have been published. The most recent entries in the series – "Texas Hold 'Em" and "Low Chicago" – were released earlier this year. The original idea behind these books came from Martin's experience as a game master in the "Superworld" role-playing game.

Martin is best known for writing the "Song of Ice and Fire" novels, on which HBO's "Game of Thrones" is based. He is also currently executive producer of the upcoming Syfy "Nightflyers" series, based on his short story of the same name. Martin is also executive producer and writer for the many Game of Thrones projects currently underway at HBO.