Why Hulu's Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Is No Longer Happening

A Court of Thorns & Rosesis one of the biggest fantasy book series out there, so it's disappointing that Hulu's TV show is no longer happening. And those who know how influential the books are may find themselves wondering why. Given that A Court of Thorns & Roses is among the most popular books on BookTok — and is coming up on a decade of viral fame there and elsewhere — it's surprising Hulu didn't prioritize its ACOTAR adaptation more heavily.

And while the fantasy series sitting in development hell for years didn't bode well for its fate, Variety's confirmation that the adaptation is "dead at Hulu" still came as a blow. There are many readers hoping to see Sarah J. Maas' fantasy books brought to the screen, and this is the second adaptation of Maas' work to be announced and then not happen. Throne of Glass' fate was hardly even addressed, but Hulu's ACOTAR show has gotten slight closure regarding its latest and most disappointing update.

Why Is The Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Not Happening? The Adaptation's Fate Explained

Hulu's Rights To The Series Are Expiring Soon

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Variety's report about the scrapped Court of Thorns & Roses show doesn't dig too deeply into the reasoning behind 20th Television's and Hulu's decision. However, it seems like the main reason the project is now considered "dead" is because the rights are expiring soon. The studio acquired the rights to ACOTAR four years ago, and there was little progress beyond that. Ronald D. Moore was once attached to the project as showrunner, but he confirmed his departure from the Hulu series in July 2024.

The confirmation that the series is officially "dead" was a long time coming, and now there's hope that another studio or streamer could step in.

Moore's exit wasn't surprising, as TVLinerevealed that ACOTAR was no longer in active development in February 2024. At that time, Varietylearned that Hulu's rights to the series would expire in the summer of 2025. It still seemed like there was hope of the show making a comeback, but that hope has been dashed with the latest update. To be fair, the confirmation that the series is officially "dead" was a long time coming, and now there's hope that another studio or streamer could step in.

5 Biggest Problems With The Fae In A Court Of Thorns & Roses

Though the Fae are a vital and beloved part of ACOTAR, that doesn't mean there are some glaring issues with the way they're written in the books.

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Unless an official announcement is made, ACOTAR fans will have to guess at why 20th Television and Hulu allowed the rights to the long-awaited adaptation to expire. It could have to do with the challenges that come with making a fantasy series; the genre requires a higher budget and more effects to be successful. Fantasy TV shows also have a tendency to get canceled after just a season or two, so perhaps the studio didn't deem ACOTAR worth the risk. However, that would be underestimating its popularity and potential.

The Court Of Thorns & Roses Show's Disappointing Update Isn't That Surprising

The Series Has Been In Limbo For Too Long

Although the ACOTAR show's fate is disappointing after four years of waiting, the latest update isn't all that surprising. Hulu's lack of progress on the series over the past four years hinted that the show might go unmade. There were numerous setbacks and delays, some of which initially stemmed from pandemic-era production obstacles.

There is a silver lining, as the rights reverting back to Maas opens the door for another studio to pick them up.

The delays went beyond that, however, and Hulu's ACOTAR adaptation remained stagnant for years. Things began looking bleaker when it left active development, so this news confirms what most fans already expected. And there is a silver lining, as the rights reverting back to Maas opens the door for another studio to pick them up.

Could ACOTAR Still Be Made Into A TV Show By Another Network Or Streamer?

Sarah J. Maas Will Reportedly Shop The Rights To It

Although Hulu's latest Court of Thorns & Roses update is disappointing, it's possible another network or streamer will pick up the rights to the series. This already happened with Disney's long-awaited Children of Blood and Bone adaptation, which was snagged by Paramount after Disney didn't go through with it. And according to Variety's sources, Maas intends to shop the rights to ACOTAR in the hopes of finding a new home for the TV show. That means it could still happen, even if it isn't at Hulu.

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The Court Of Thorns & Roses Show's Potential Doesn't Compare To Hulu's Forgotten Sarah J. Maas Adaptation

Hulu's A Court of Thorns and Roses adaptation would do well, but its forgotten Throne of Glass TV show had the highest potential for worldwide success

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The sheer popularity of the books means an adaptation is probably inevitable at some point. And there are networks better suited for an ACOTAR adaptation, like HBO, Showtime, or Starz. Given the books' more mature themes and romances, the companies behind shows like Game of Thrones, Interview With a Vampire, and Outlander are all great contenders. And with Amazon's Fourth Wing show and Netflix's Quicksilver on the horizon, there's a good chance other studios will want to get in on the romantasy boom by picking up A Court of Thorns & Roses.

Source: Variety, TVLine

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