Fans of Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses have been waiting years to see the romantasy phenomenon brought to the screen. But, unfortunately, the journey from Prythian to television has been anything but straightforward.
The adaptation was first announced in 2021, when Hulu and 20th Television revealed plans to develop the series with Maas working alongside Ronald D. Moore, the creative force behind Outlander. The combination seemed almost too perfect: a hugely popular fantasy romance series paired with a writer experienced in adapting sweeping, complicated worlds. Maas was also involved in writing the pilot, giving fans hope that the show would stay close to the books.
Then came the waiting. For years, there were few concrete updates, while Moore eventually confirmed in 2024 that he was no longer working on the project. In February 2025, the biggest blow arrived: Hulu officially decided not to move forward with the adaptation. After spending roughly four years in development, the planned series was effectively shelved.
But this is where the story gets interesting. The adaptation is not necessarily dead forever. Once Disney’s rights expired, Maas regained control of the adaptation rights. In March 2026, she confirmed that she now has the rights back to her work and explained that she wants significantly more creative involvement if her books eventually make it to the screen.
And that may actually be good news for fans. Maas has been particularly clear that she does not want a future adaptation to become someone else’s interpretation of Prythian. She wants to be involved in everything from the storytelling and visual design to the music and overall feel of the production.
So, what is the tea? There is currently no confirmed ACOTAR TV series, no confirmed streamer, no cast and no release date. The Hulu version is officially over, but the door to a new adaptation remains open.
For now, fans will have to wait and see whether another studio is brave enough to take on Prythian. Given the series’ enormous popularity, though, it seems less like a question of if we will see ACOTAR on screen and more like a question of who will finally get it right.