George R.R. Martin Producing Hercules, Winds of Winter Delay?

Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has signed on to produce an upcoming animated Hercules film, marking another side project that diverts his focus from the long-awaited Winds of Winter.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Martin will produce the movie titled A Dozen Tough Jobs, which reimagines the classic Greek myth of Hercules' Twelve Labors from the viewpoint of a farmer in 1920s Mississippi.

While Martin is credited as a producer, he will not be involved in writing the screenplay. That task falls to Joe R. Lansdale, the writer behind the eccentric novel Bubba Ho-Tep, which depicted Elvis Presley battling an Egyptian mummy.

"George R.R. Martin understands the impact of epic storytelling and sprawling franchises better than anyone," said David Steward II, head of production company Lion Forge Entertainment.

"A Dozen Tough Jobs reinvents a timeless legend through a culturally rich new perspective. This is not merely a retelling — it’s an innovative interpretation rooted in history, yet boldly expanding myth into unexplored territory."

Winds of Winter, the next installment in Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, still does not have a confirmed release date. It has now been nearly 14 years since the previous book, A Dance with Dragons, was published in July 2011.

Martin, now 76, still intends to complete the series with a final book titled A Dream of Spring — something the Game of Thrones television adaptation did not wait for, leading to a divisive conclusion.

In the meantime, the author has remained active with various projects. He has contributed to several Game of Thrones spinoff television series, including the acclaimed House of the Dragon, and has written fictional historical works set in the same universe.

Martin has also ventured into video games, notably contributing lore and backstory for the hit title Elden Ring.

In a September 2024 blog post, Martin acknowledged that "television projects took up most of the first half of the year," preventing him from making significant progress on his writing. As for when Winds of Winter will be finished? He indicated as recently as last month that it will not be anytime soon.

On April 7, 2025, Martin expressed frustration about constantly needing to deny speculation: "I'm tired of refuting rumors every time a casual remark of mine — often unrelated to WINDS — leads the internet to believe the book is about to release. It’s not. No."