Gore Verbinski's George R. R. Martin Adaptation 'Sandkings': A Risky Sci-Fi Horror Project [Exclusive]

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Published Jan 29, 2026, 3:30 PM EST

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Gore Verbinski is no stranger to ambitious swings, but his latest update suggests his upcoming George R. R. Martin adaptation might be one of his most daring yet. Speaking with Collider’s Aidan Kelley at the Palm Springs International Film Festival to promote his acclaimed new film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, the director opened up about what draws him to projects that feel slightly dangerous creatively — including his long-in-development take on Martin’s sci-fi horror classic Sandkings.

Originally published in the seventies, Sandkings is one of Martin’s most unsettling works, blending science fiction, horror, and psychological cruelty — a tonal cocktail that fits neatly alongside Verbinski’s risk-taking filmography. The story follows a deeply unpleasant protagonist whose obsession with controlling alien creatures spirals into chaos. When asked about his upcoming projects, the Pirates of the Caribbean and Rango director said:

“I’m sort of drawn to things that I don’t know how to do. I mean, I think all of this is learning, and I’m curious. I’m fascinated by the cost of curiosity. I’ve got a lot of burned fingers, but I’m still sort of drawn to the light. There’s a George R. R. Martin short story called 'Sandkings' that we’re developing that is really, really pretty cool.”

What Is 'Sandkings' About?

A very short story, Sandkings was published by Martin in 1979, winning a Hugo Award for Best Novelette the following year. The plot follows Simon Kress, a wealthy playboy on the planet Baldur who loves to collect dangerous, exotic animals. Kinda like an intergalactic Kraven the Hunter. But when most of his pets die after being left alone during a long business trip, he ventures into the city to find replacements.

He eventually comes upon a strange shop called Wo & Shade, where he buys a terrarium containing four separate colonies of creatures known as sandkings — organisms that rapidly expand to dominate whatever space they inhabit. Each colony is ruled by a single massive female, known as a maw, and supported by swarms of insect-like drones she commands telepathically. These drones forage for food and build elaborate sandcastles around the maw, fortifying her against rival colonies. The four groups — white, black, red, and orange — are naturally hostile toward one another, but when their owner withholds food, they become bloodthirsty and ruthless, and Simon ends up gambling on the outcomes, thrilling some friends while repulsing others. Inevitably, the experiment spirals out of control.

While Verbinski didn’t offer a timeline or casting details, his comments suggest the project is still very much alive, so stay tuned to Collider for the latest updates on Sandkings.