Hulu’s ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ Adaptation Officially Scrapped

Hulu’s TV adaptation of Sarah J. Maas’s hugely popular book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, has officially been canceled. The project, which was produced by Disney’s 20th Television, had been in development since March 2021 but has now come to an end. The series, based on the beloved “romantasy” novels (a mix of romance and fantasy), had generated excitement among fans, but it seems it will not be making its way to the screen.

The ACOTAR series, as fans affectionately call it, follows the story of Feyre Archeron, a young woman who is drawn into the mystical and dangerous world of faeries after a killing spree. Feyre’s journey continues through romance, danger, and magical secrets. The books have been a significant success since the first novel was published in 2015, leading to multiple sequels, with a sixth book in the series expected, though no release date has been announced.

The show had big plans, especially with Sarah J. Maas herself being involved in the development of the TV scripts, working alongside Ronald D. Moore, the creator of the hit series Outlander. Despite the potential and excitement surrounding the project, there have been few updates in the past months.

The writers’ and actors’ strikes in the summer of 2023 also contributed to the delay in many scripted projects, including this one. Production halted, and it became clear that A Court of Thorns and Roses would not be moving forward as initially planned.

In February 2023, TVLine reported that Hulu had officially stopped developing the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, and there were no plans to shop it to other streaming platforms or networks. At that time, it was revealed that although Disney’s 20th Television still held the rights to the project, it would not be an active priority, and it was no longer in the development stage. The rights to the series were set to expire by the summer of 2025, leaving Maas with the possibility of taking the adaptation rights to another studio or platform.

With the show now officially canceled, Sarah J. Maas is reportedly looking to secure a new deal for the TV adaptation rights. Sources have mentioned that once the option with Disney expires, Maas plans to shop the series to a new studio. Fans of the books are hoping that the story will find new life on another platform, but for now, the future of the adaptation remains uncertain.

The first book in the series follows Feyre Archeron, a 19-year-old huntress who lives in a world where humans and faeries are separated. When she kills a faerie wolf in the woods, she is dragged to Prythian, a magical land controlled by the powerful faerie lords. She is taken to the Spring Court, where she begins to discover the dark secrets of the faerie world.

Following the success of the first novel, Maas released sequels that continue the saga of Feyre and her adventures in the world of faeries. These include A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames. Fans continue to eagerly await the release of the next book in the series.

The cancellation of A Court of Thorns and Roses has left many fans disappointed, as they had been looking forward to seeing Feyre’s world come to life. The series had a lot of potential, but as the industry faces changes and challenges, it appears this particular project will not see the light of day for now.

While it may not be the end of the road for ACOTAR, as Maas is actively seeking new opportunities for the adaptation, it is a moment of uncertainty for those who were hoping to watch it unfold on screen. Fans will have to wait and see where Feyre’s journey goes next, whether it’s on a different platform or as part of a new project in the future.

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