George R.R. Martin is developing new series for HBO

It’s already been a busy year for George R.R. Martin, and it’s about to get even busier. The author will develop a new television series for HBO called “Captain Cosmos,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The show will follow “a young science fiction writer living in 1949 at the dawn of the age of TV” who “spends his time penning stories no one else would dare to write.” Michael Cassutt, who, like Martin, wrote for the 1980s reboot of “The Twilight Zone,” will pen the first episode.

The series would be the second collaboration between Martin and HBO. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” books form the basis of the hit show “Game of Thrones.” The fifth season of that series starts on April 12.

Fans worried that “Captain Cosmos” will distract Martin from finishing “The Winds of Winter,” the planned sixth book in his series, can relax.

Martin told Entertainment Weekly that he’s committed to having the book published before the sixth season of “Game of Thrones” begins next year.

“I wish it was out now,” Martin said. “Maybe I’m being overly optimistic about how quickly I can finish. But I canceled two convention appearances, I’m turning down a lot more interviews -- anything I can do to clear my decks and get this done.”

Martin teased a possible twist in “The Winds of Winter,” but very vaguely. “I’m still weighing whether to go that direction or not,” he said. “It’s a great twist. It’s easy to do things that are shocking or unexpected, but they have to grow out of characters.”

Whether the twist will happen remains to be seen, but Martin fans who are sick of waiting have at least some solace: The author released a chapter from the forthcoming book last week.