George R.R. Martin may take ‘Game of Thrones’ to movie screens

George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones� -- known to longtime fans as the “Song of Ice and Fire� book series -- is enjoying big success on television screens. But it might also be destined for something bigger: the movies.

Martin told the Hollywood Reporter that a big-screen feature -- with a hefty budget -- might be what it takes to bring the story to its grand conclusion.

“It all depends on how long the main series runs,� Martin said. “Do we run for seven years? Do we run for eight? Do we run for 10? The books get bigger and bigger [in scope]. It might need a feature to tie things up, something with a feature budget, like $100 million for two hours. Those dragons get real big, you know.�

The fourth season premiere of HBO’s award-winning series screened for a star-studded audience this week in New York. Fans in Martin’s hometown of Santa Fe, N.M., will be treated to a screening on March 29. The actual television premiere is April 6.

Martin began the bestselling “Song of Ice and Fire� series with “Game of Thrones,� published in 1991. The huge, popular novel was followed by more and bigger books that began taking ever-longer for Martin to write. “A Clash of Kings� was published in 1998; “A Storm of Swords� in 2000; “A Feast for Crows� in 2005; and “A Dance of Dragons� in 2011. The next book, “Winds of Winter� is ... coming.

ALSO:

Making beautiful things from books: ‘BiblioCraft’

Selected Shorts returns to the Getty, with snacks

Kevin Trudeau sentenced to 10 years in prison over book, TV claims

Carolyn Kellogg: Join me on Twitter, Facebook and Google+