The future of A Court of Thorns and Roses: Could HBO be the perfect fit for the adaptation? 

The announcement that Hulu's adaptation of A Court of Thorns and Roses will no longer be materialized has received mixed sentiments from the fans. Some feel relieved, hoping that Hulu may not have been able to do the series justice, while others would have wished a network like HBO, which produces epic fantasies such as Game of Thrones, to have better brought the story to life.

The cancellation follows years of production, which were marred by many setbacks, including the loss of showrunner Ronald D. Moore and production shutdowns across the industry due to strikes.

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The rise and fall of the Hulu adaptation of A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court of Thorns and Roses' path to the screen started in March 2021 when Hulu planned to adapt the series, with award-winning showrunner Ronald D. Moore set to work on the project. Audiences were thrilled, imagining their favorite characters in a big-budget fantasy show.

Production was not without its challenges, though. During the summer of 2023, the writers' and actors' strikes in Hollywood caused a halt in almost all scripted shows and development work. This was added to when Moore announced his departure from the project in July 2024, leaving the fate of the adaptation in doubt.

Despite all these drawbacks, the coup de grâce came in February 2025 when the project was confirmed to be scrapped. This move was probably inspired by Hulu's inexperience in handling high-budget fantasy shows that take huge investments and time. The cancellation has raised eyebrows among fans questioning whether another network would do justice to the show.

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Potential for another network

The cancellation of the Hulu series has created an opportunity for other networks to possibly acquire the rights to A Court of Thorns and Roses. Author Sarah J. Maas intends to shop the series around to other studios when the existing option lapses in the summer of 2025.

There are speculations among fans that services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime might resuscitate the project, considering they have handled fantasy shows in the past. Yet, caution is expressed by some fans for fear of hastened or incompetent adaptations. HBO, which proved successful with Game of Thrones, is frequently cited as an ideal platform for A Court of Thorns and Roses.

The history of how HBO has been able to balance complex, sweeping fantasy stories provides hope that HBO might be able to do A Court of Thorns and Roses justice in the world-building and character development, but there are no signs that HBO is looking into picking up the rights.

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Fan Reactions and Future Prospects

Fan responses to the cancellation have been divided. Some are relieved, thinking that Hulu may not have done the series justice, while others are upset, thinking that the series had wonderful potential. The dedicated fan base is optimistic that another network will pick up the project, bringing the favorite characters and storylines to life in a manner that honors the source material.

The success of A Court of Thorns and Roses on networks such as TikTok and its ongoing fanbase indicate that a strong interest remains in having the series adapted into a television program. Whether a different network will accept the challenge is yet to be determined, but the rights being returned to Maas presents an opportunity for the series to get a suitable platform.

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Fans are split, with some being relieved and others being disappointed and opining that a network such as HBO might have managed the series differently.

The cancellation provides an opportunity for other networks to pick up the rights, with author Sarah J. Maas set to shop the series around after the existing option runs out. The series' future is questionable, but the fact that it was popular and has a devoted following indicates there is still potential for a successful series.