Hulu’s long-rumored adaptation of *A Court of Thorns and Roses* (ACOTAR) is officially dead, and honestly, is anyone surprised?
Sarah J. Maas’s *romantasy* series has been one of the biggest bestsellers of the last decade, blending high fantasy with romance. The first book follows Feyre Archeron, a 19-year-old human huntress who, after killing a faerie wolf in the woods, is taken to the magical land of Prythian as punishment.
With its massive fanbase (the *#ACOTAR* tag has over 8.9 billion views on TikTok), the hype for a TV adaptation was inevitable. But despite the excitement, the project faced setback after setback—until Hulu finally let it go.
A Timeline of ACOTAR's TV Dreams and Downfalls
A Court of Thorns and Roses is published. The book gains a cult following and eventually expands into a five-book (and counting) fantasy saga.
Tempo Productions acquires the film rights to ACOTAR, initially planning a movie adaptation.
Sarah J. Maas announces on Instagram that she is co-writing a TV adaptation for Hulu with Outlander producer Ronald D. Moore.
Maas confirms that the first version of the script is completed. However, no further updates on casting or production are provided.
Hulu mentions ACOTAR at the Television Critics Association press tour, signaling that the project is still in development. However, no timeline for filming is given.
Ronald D. Moore exits the project. While no official statement is given, reports suggest he shifts focus to other commitments, including For All Mankind (Apple TV+) and an upcoming Battlestar Galactica reboot for Peacock. His departure leaves the adaptation without a showrunner, a crucial role in bringing a series to life.
Hulu officially drops ACOTAR. The decision is reportedly part of Disney’s content cutbacks, as the company—Hulu’s parent since acquiring full control in November 2023—focuses on more cost-effective projects. With Moore gone, the adaptation is quietly shelved.
Why Did Hulu Let ACOTAR Go?
The project was doomed by a mix of industry chaos, shifting priorities, and creative roadblocks:
Hollywood Strikes: The 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strikes halted most TV productions. Since ACOTAR was still in early development, this delay made it harder for the project to regain momentum.
Disney’s Changing Strategy: Hulu, originally an independent streaming platform, became fully controlled by Disney in November 2023 after the company bought out Comcast’s remaining stake. Since then, Disney has cut back on expensive, high-risk projects, favoring franchises they already own (Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar). ACOTAR, a complex fantasy adaptation requiring big-budget world-building, didn’t fit their new priorities.
Ronald D. Moore’s Exit : As the showrunner, Moore was supposed to oversee everything from writing to production. When he left in July 2024, the project lost its key creative leader. Without a replacement, the show stalled
Genre Risks: Fantasy adaptations are expensive and unpredictable. While hits like Game of Thrones and The Witcher proved the genre’s appeal, other big-budget fantasy shows (like Amazon’s The Rings of Power) have struggled to justify their costs. ACOTAR, with its mix of romance and fantasy, may have been seen as too much of a financial risk..
What's Next for ACOTAR?
The good news? Sarah J. Maas reportedly plans to reclaim the TV rights once Disney’s hold expires in late summer 2025. This means another network or streaming platform could pick up the project.
For now, fans will have to settle for dream casting, rereads, and the eternal question: Would any adaptation even live up to the books?
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