Summary
A Court of Thorns & Roseswould make a great TV show, butI’ve lost faith in Hulu’s adaptation after multiple delaysand another disappointing update atSan Diego Comic-Con.A Court of Thorns & Rosesis among themost beloved books on BookTok, and its popularity has become increasingly mainstream since its 2016 debut. It’s no wonder that Hulu snagged the adaptation rights toSarah J. Maas' fantasy series, but it is somewhat shocking — and frustrating — that little to no progress has been made on the much-anticipated TV series.
As forwhy theACOTARshow is taking so long, there are a few things that could be holding it up. In addition to COVID-related production delays, Maas juggling involvement in the show and her writing career poses a challenge. There’s also the fact that it’s a fantasy production, which can take a lot of money and effort to bring to life. But given the popularity of genre TV — and the potential the series has to become a hit —Hulu really should beprioritizing itsCourt of Thorns & Rosesshow. Sadly, I’m not confident it will after the latest setback.
8 Challenges The A Court Of Thorns And Roses Show Faces Adapting The Books
Like many fantasy book adaptations, the A Court of Thorns and Roses TV series has many obstacles in its journey toward successful development.
Ronald D. Moore Leaving Hulu’s ACOTAR Show Is Really Disappointing
He Was The Perfect Showrunner For The Sarah J. Maas Adaptation
Hulu’sCourt of Thorns & Rosesshow is facing another setbackon the heels of an update that surfaced at San Diego Comic-Con. PerEntertaintment Weekly,Ronald D. Moore will no longer serve as showrunner for the upcoming adaptation, despite being attached to it for some time. Moore admitted that he’s not sure of the status of Hulu’sACOTARat this point, saying, “I had worked on it for a while, but it was still in development, as they say, when I left.” Moore’s words don’t give me confidence that Hulu is making the adaptation a priority for its programming.
Moore’s departure is disappointing for another reason as well: he would no doubt have done a great job with Maas' story.A Court of Thorns & Rosesleans heavily into its romance storylines, falling firmly into the “romantasy” category. As Moore has experience working onOutlander’s TV adaptation, he’s familiar with balancing fantastical storytelling with romance. And he’s got a handle on creating such content for adults. WithOutlanderimpressively bringing the source material to life, I had confidence Moore could helpACOTARdo the same. Now I’m doubtful the show will do it justice, even if it does happen.
Finding A New Showrunner Just Adds To Its Problems
Moore leaving Hulu’sCourt of Thorns & RosesTV show meansit will need to find a new showrunner, which will hold it up further. The series has already had numerous setbacks since being announced, and at this stage, I have to question whether it will really happen. It’s one of thoseshows that’s been stuck in development hellfor years, and little progress seems to have been made in terms of casting or writing. Updates have been scarce, but scripts barely seem to be written. And with no casting announcements made, it could be alongtime before production begins.
If it takes several more years forA Court of Thorns & Rosesto start filming, the buzz surrounding the TV show and its source material could very well die down. I’m frustrated and skeptical about it already, and I’m sure other fans will also lose hope or interest in it coming to Hulu. This isn’t the first disappointment we’ve faced regarding an adaptation either. Tempo Productions had reportedly planned to turn Maas' series into a movie before Hulu ever bought the rights (viaFandom.com). However, that never came to fruition, setting the stage for a long series of disappointments.
Why Is Adapting A Court Of Thorns & Roses So Difficult?
It’s A Fantasy TV Series
AdaptingA Court of Thorns & Rosesis difficult for several reasons, and some of them are just practical issues. The COVID-19 pandemic stalled progress on many series in development, and there may also have been scheduling issues the creatives on the show needed to work through. Moore’s departure will add to the setbacks, making it more difficult to makeACOTAR’s adaptation a reality. But even without all the delays,transformingA Court of Thorns & Rosesinto an on-screen production will be a huge challenge. After all, it’s a fantasy series with a lot of moving parts.
Genre television can be difficult to make because it requires large budgets and impressive effects.BringingACOTAR’s Fae to life will require a lot of effort, as will including the action sequences and battles from the later books. Hulu is making a commitment by green-lighting itsACOTARshow, as it’s a lengthy story. The streamer is also taking a risk because there’s always a chance the money and work it puts in won’t pay off. And deciding what to include and what to change could be holding up the script-writing as well. Overall, genre TV is a tough balancing act, andACOTAR’s delays prove that.
Will Hulu’s ACOTAR Show Ever Actually Happen?
A Prolonged Development Makes Me Less & Less Confident
With yet another disappointing update about Hulu’sCourt of Thorns & Rosesshow, I’m less and less confident that the adaptation will actually happen. While Moore’s comments suggest it’s still in development, things haven’t looked promising for the project in a while. The longer the series remains in development, the less likely it seems to happen. Not only will the hype surrounding theACOTARshow die off, but it will also fade to the background in terms of Hulu’s priorities. Needless to say,ACOTAR’s latest setback is a major blow to fans hoping to see the books on-screen.
With yet another disappointing update about Hulu’sCourt of Thorns & Rosesshow, I’m less and less confident that the adaptation will actually happen.
There is some hope though, as Hulu hasn’t announced that it’s slashing the series — at least not yet. And with moreA Court of Thorns & Rosesbooks planned by Maas, the source material will likely remain popular well into the future. That could inspire Hulu to capitalize on the demand for its upcoming adaptation. Perhaps it will see the value in itsACOTARshow and push to find a new showrunner. I’m not incredibly confident at this point, but I’d be happy ifA Court of Thorns & Rosesproves me wrong.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Based on theA Court of Thorns and Rosesfantasy novel series, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a television adaptation that follows Feyre Archeron, a young woman dragged into the world of faeries after slaying one of their kind. The series will follow her journey through the lands of Prythian and her relationship with one of its lords, Tamlin.
