Report: George R.R. Martin’s “Wild Cards” optioned for film

The superhero anthology series “Wild Cards,” edited by author George R.R. Martin, may soon have a film adaptation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Syfy Films, aa joint venture of Syfy and Universal Pictures, has acquired the screen rights to “Wild Cards.”   Several authors created the world of the “Wild Cards,” in which an alien virus killed most it came in contact with, but mutated a few into sometimes powerful but always deformed or damaged “jokers.”  An even smaller percentage became superpowered “Aces.”

Melinda Snodgrass, a co-creator and co-writer on the series, will write the screenplay, and will executive produce with Martin.

The series has a wide cast of characters and a decades-spanning story, and was among the first (along with comics like “Watchmen”) to deal with what the real-world implications of superpowers might be.

- Matt Price