"Terra" producer Ryan Colucci will serve as co-producer on the screen adaptation of George R.R. Martin's werewolf tale "The Skin Trade."

Colucci ("Terra") describes "The Skin Trade" as a fusion of "Silence of the Lambs" and "The Howling," and as ripe material for sequels and a TV series.

"It is a thrilling Raymond Chandler-esque detective story at heart, but it just happens to involve werewolves," he said. "I'm fascinated with the concept that these creatures of myth can exist in our society right under our noses. And master craftsman George R.R. Martin keeps the audience on the edge of their seats with the twists and turns of the case."

Originally published in the 1988 anthology "Night Visions 5" and recently optioned by Mike the Pike Productions, the tale follows a private detective in a small town as she investigates murders by a mysterious killer who takes his victimsskins, and proves to be preying on lycanthropes.

"We couldn't be happier to have signed Ryan to the team for 'Skin Trade,'" said Mark B. Newbauer, CEO/president of Mike the Pike Productions. "This is quite a coup for MTP and its shareholders as Ryan is more than a producer by title; he's an accomplished producer with solid industry deals and contacts in every aspect of the industry. This includes studios to talent to distribution, many of which are household names like Warner Brothers and Lionsgate.

"Ryan's vision is very much in line with ours on this project with a personality conducive to a partnership that I feel will turn a profitable project with mass appeal. We both see eye to eye on just about every aspect of the story in terms of adapting it to the screen with an original creative vision while maintaining a sense of loyalty for the rich universe of dark, compelling character, tone and lore created in Martin's much praised novella."

"The Skin Trade" isn't Colucci's only werewolf venture; in 2008, he sold his script "Lobo" to Stone Village Pictures. John Stockwell ("Blue Crush," "Turistas") is attached to direct. It involves a colony of werewolves deep in the jungles of Brazil, and could become a trilogy.

In addition, Colucci is working on an adaptation of the Arcana Studio graphic novel "Harbor Moon," a story about a soldier trapped in a town where werewolves and their hunters clash.

Colucci is also working with director Mike Newell ("Prince of Persia: Sands of Time," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") on Warner Brothers Pictures' adaption of "The Sword of Shannara," based on Terry Brook's epic fantasy series.