HBO’s fantasy money machine “Game of Thrones”, based on the Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin, has been winning fans and emmy nominations since its premier, making its writers hot commodities in Hollywood. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that writer Dave Hill has been handpicked by Warner Bros. to write a big-screen tale about legendary wizard Merlin.

Hill, who has served as a writer and assistant to series creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, should be right at home in the magic and monsters world of the Merlin mythos having spent extended time helping to bring Martin’s world to life. He may have to tone it down though, as the project is reportedly going to take more of a family angle. That means no slit throats, no dragons burning men alive, and certainly no gratuitous sex.

Hill will be joined on the project by writer David Farr, who is perhaps most well-known for writing the film “Hanna”, about a young girl who has been trained as an assassin. Early reports point toward the writers working together to tell the tale of Merlin’s youth and rise to prominence as court wizard of King Arthur.

Fans of the BBC series about the wizard will no doubt be disappointed that the film will bear no ties to the small-screen version. In creating the new storyline Warner Bros. hopes to add another blockbuster franchise to its roster to go along with the likes of Superman and Harry Potter.

Merlin is a character that has already undergone several treatments by countless writers over the years, so Hill and Farr may struggle to create a fresh story that will put viewers in seats. On the plus side, if anyone can do that it is someone who has brought Westeros to life.