NEW YORK • They faithfully adapted and paved new ground for the Game Of Thrones universe. Why not give Star Wars a whirl? David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, executive producers of Game Of Thrones, will write and produce a series of new Star Wars movies, the Walt Disney Co said on Tuesday.

There were no details about the number of movies or when they would be released. But Disney did say the Benioff and Weiss films would be separate from the Luke Skywalker universe of movies and the trilogy that Rian Johnson, the writer and director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, is working on.

The deal amounts to a coup for each party. Disney gets two star producers who have proven they can satisfy Thrones book loyalists along with drawing in millions of general viewers who made Game Of Thrones the most popular show in HBO's history.

And for Benioff and Weiss, the Star Wars assignment could prove to be more welcoming than their planned HBO project announced in summer.

The news that they would work on Confederate, a drama that imagines the South won the Civil War and slavery remains intact in today's America, was met with an immediate backlash. HBO has said it would proceed with the drama if Benioff and Weiss wanted to and that they "should be given time to develop the series rather than face prejudgment".

Many television executives in Hollywood are sceptical that it will get made and Star Wars could give the Thrones producers an excuse to put it off.

The last Game Of Thrones season will be broadcast next year.

HBO is developing several Game Of Thrones prequels and though Benioff and Weiss will get executive producer credits on those shows, they will not be actively involved.

They said in a statement: "In the summer of 1977, we travelled to a galaxy far, far away, and we've been dreaming of it ever since. We are honoured by the opportunity, a little terrified by the responsibility and so excited to get started as soon as the final season of Game Of Thrones is complete."

NYTIMES