Hulu’s scrapped adaptation of Sarah J. Maas’A Court of Thorns & Roseslooks even more ridiculous after the announcement of her new deal. Fans ofMaas' best-selling fantasy seriesare eagerly awaiting news aboutA Court of Thorns & Rosesbook6, and the silence is only more frustrating after the Hulu show’s cancellation.
Given the departure of showrunner Ronald D. Moore and the lack of updates from the streamer and Maas, the confirmation thatHulu’sACOTARshow was not happeningwasn’t a huge surprise. It was, however, disappointing. Maas reportedly intends to shop the rights elsewhere (viaVariety), but no announcements have been made since the show was reported dead in the water.
Even so, theACOTARbooks continue to be some ofthe most popular on BookTok. And with titles likeFourth WingandPowerlessbeing picked up for adaptations, there’s hope that Maas' series will get its moment as well. It’s a shame Hulu is no longer planning to adapt it, butMaas' new licensing deal suggests that’s a mistake on the streamer’s part.
Sarah J. Maas' New Licensing Deal Proves How Popular Her Fantasy Books Really Are
Maas' Deal Will Create New ACOTAR Merch & Experiences
Maas' has struck an exclusive multi-year deal with IMG Licensing forA Court of Thorns & Roses,showcasing how popular the series continues to be, even four years after the last book’s release. According toThe Hollywood Reporter,Maas' partnership with IMG will create new merchandise and experiences for the fandom to enjoy. These could help the books draw new audiences as well.
According toTHR,this deal will see the creation of clothing, cosmetics, food and drinks, decor, toys, and collector’s itemsbased onACOTARand Maas' other series, likeThrone of GlassandCrescent City. It also green-lights fan experiences, though it’s unclear what they’ll look like. This is a huge step for Maas, and it’s likely to pay off for the author, IMG, and the fan base.
The fact thatA Court of Thorns & Rosesnow has a licensing deal, even without a movie or TV show behind it, truly shows its potential. IfACOTARmerchandise sees big returns,it could even push Hollywood to prioritize an adaptation again. After all, there are many other books and series that have gotten picked up with less excitement surrounding them.
This new deal drives home the benefits Hulu could have reaped from anACOTARshow.
And with Maas' books being turned into merchandise and experiences,I have to wonder why Hulu wouldn’t move forward with itsCourt of Thorns & RosesTV show. Scrapping it already seemed like a dubious idea, especially as streamers like Prime Video and Netflix embrace romantasy with theirFourth WingandQuicksilverprojects. But this new deal drives home the benefits Hulu could have reaped from anACOTARshow.
Hulu’s Scrapped Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Looks Even More Ridiculous Now
Hulu May Have Lost Out On A Huge Payout With ACOTAR
Hulu scrapping theA Court of Thorns & Rosesshow looks even more ridiculous due to this licensing deal, as the studio could have capitalized on the series' continued popularity.The decision to cancel the adaptation was already an unpopular one, thefan petition regarding Hulu’s canceledACOTARshowproving there was demand for it.
I’m hopeful a network or streamer will seeA Court of Thorns & Roses' adaptation potential eventually, and this deal could help it happen faster.
Sadly, Hulu chose to leave that potential gain behind by letting the rights to the series lapse. Perhaps another studio will reap the benefits ofACOTAR’s ongoing popularity though, as it’s clearly big enough to warrant an adaptation. I’m hopeful a network or streamer will seeA Court of Thorns & Roses' potential eventually, and any success this deal has could help it happen faster.
