The Court Of Thorns & Roses Show's Fate Continues A Depressing Trend For Sarah J. Maas Series
Hulu's A Court of Thorns and Roses TV show adaptation is officially canceled after years of essentially no news, continuing a sad trend for bestselling fantasy author Sarah J. Maas, also the author of the Throne of Glass and Crescent City series. A Court of Thorns and Roses, focusing on huntress-turned-queen Feyre Archeron, seemed to have a promising future on screen when it was confirmed that Maas herself was working on the adaptation alongside Ronald D. Moore. After false ACOTAR cancelation reports in February 2024, which Hulu denied, Moore left the project in July 2024.
This led up to perhaps the inevitable conclusion of the show being pronounced dead in February 2025, a few months ahead of Disney losing the rights to the story in the summer of 2025 (via Variety). It is a strange sequence of events, when Maas' writing has much cinematic potential, is wildly popular, and seems to perfectly fit in with the demand for high fantasy material to adapt post-Game of Thrones. But despite the legions of fans clamoring to see Feyre, Rhysand, and the rest brought to life, Hulu let it die — and this isn't the first time they have done so.
The Court Of Thorns & Roses Show's Fate Mirrors That Of Hulu's Throne Of Glass Series
Hulu Once Seemed Ready To Adapt Throne Of Glass, But Let That Project Fade As Well
In 2016, Hulu acquired the rights to Throne of Glass, the first and best series by Sarah J. Maas. The eight-book saga kicks off with the simple premise of an immensely skilled assassin battling it out in a Hunger Games-inspired competition to earn her freedom, but over the subsequent books, grows into a sprawling narrative with many fascinating characters on different but entwined journeys to save their respective kingdoms. It seemed well set up to be the foundation for a Game of Thrones-scale series, if slightly more glamorous and marketed towards a younger audience.
Why Hulu's Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Is No Longer Happening
Hulu’s Court of Thorns & Roses adaptation got a disappointing update, but all hope of seeing Sarah J. Maas’ series on-screen isn’t lost.
At some point, a picture of the apparent script of the pilot circulated, showing the front page with the simple title "Celaena." However, nothing else was ever heard of the Throne of Glass TV show again. The final book, Kingdom of Ash, came out in late 2018, and Maas reconcentrated her efforts to work on A Court of Thorns and Rosesand the beginning of her ambitious first adult and semi-modern series, Crescent City. Meanwhile, Throne of Glass' adaptation never moved forward, with Hulu presumably also losing the rights in several months, if they have not expired already.
It's Depressing That Sarah J. Maas' Fantasy Adaptations Can't Seem To Reach The Finish Line
For All Their Popularity, Neither Of Maas' Books Made It To Screens
Like any fandom, the moment A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass were announced to be getting TV shows, the fans were thrilled. Anyone who has read Mass' writing knows she has a fondness for dramatic characters, witty comebacks, electric action, and scenes that are just plain cinematic, which we can't help but imagine playing out on screen. In both cases, there were some snippets of news that gave reason for excitement to continue building — an iconic name like Ronald D. Moore coming on board, or a flash of a perfect script title.
Anyone who has read Mass' writing knows she has a fondness for dramatic characters, witty comebacks, electric action, and scenes that are just plain cinematic, which we can't help but imagine playing out on screen.
Other young adult fantasy adaptations have been adapted and treated unfairly, like Shadow and Bone being canceled too soon, with the Grishaverse being something of a steampunk counterpart to the Maasverse. But at least Shadow and Bone's show came to fruition, with plenty of eager viewers coming along for the ride, as well as a flawless cast. Maas' TV shows never even get to that point, languishing in development hell with a streaming service that apparently has no interest in seeing it to the end — or at least to one season.
Hulu Losing The Rights To ACOTAR Comes With 1 Positive For Sarah J. Maas' Multiverse
Now Another Streamer Could Pick Up Both Series & Realize Which One They Should Do First
However, when Maas begins shopping A Court of Thorns and Roses to a new producer — which she plans on doing, per Variety — there is the apparent bonus that she has another series to sell with the potential to be a huge hit. Netflix could take another shot at the YA/new adult fantasy world when Shadow and Bone was partially led to an early end by the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes; Prime has shown interest in this subgenre with the Fourth Wing TV show; HBO is, of course, home base for epic fantasy.
10 Most Powerful Throne Of Glass Characters, Ranked
Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass books feature many powerful characters with varying levels of magical and combative ability that aid them in battle.
Moreover, any of these series might realize what we've known all along: Throne of Glass should be adapted first. It is a better entry point into Maas' world when it is written for a slightly younger audience, it has broader appeal with a bigger cast and less focus on romance, supporting characters who are better developed with their own POV chapters and kingdoms to save, and a cemented conclusion to work towards from the beginning. A Court of Thorns and Roses' fate is disappointing, but there is still hope for it and the bigger Maasverse yet.
