Is the ACOTAR TV show still happening? Sarah J. Maas breaks silence on its future

Sarah J. Maas has revealed that the planned television adaptation of her bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series is currently on pause.

Speaking during an appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast on March 4, the author said her immediate focus is returning to the books rather than pushing ahead with the long-awaited ACOTAR TV project.

“Right now, my focus is on books,” Maas said. “It’s been a little while since you guys have had something, so I’m focusing on that.”

The update comes as fans continue to speculate about whether the ACOTAR series will eventually make its way to television.

Why the ACOTAR adaptation is on hold

Maas suggested that creative control over the story is a major factor behind the delay.

The author said she has recently been able to regain the rights to her novels, allowing her greater influence over how any future adaptation is developed.

“Any TV movie adaptation is kind of like another facet of the worlds that I’ve created,” Maas said. “It’s something that I want to be in charge of. I want to be learning everything that I can.”

She added that maintaining the vision of the books for readers is a priority.

“I want to see everything adapted the way I envision it, and the way I know fans want it,” Maas said. “I don’t ever want to hear, ‘Oh, we need to change this to appeal to XYZ demographic.’ That’s not how you make art.”

What happened to the Hulu ACOTAR series

A television adaptation of A Court of Thorns and Roses was first announced in 2021, when Hulu revealed plans to develop the fantasy series with Outlander creator Ronald D. Moore attached as writer and executive producer.

However, Moore later confirmed in 2024 that he had stepped away from the project after leaving Disney and returning to Sony, leaving the show’s development uncertain.

“I can tell you I am no longer working on it,” Moore said during a Comic-Con appearance at the time.

ACOTAR fans still have new books on the way

While the TV adaptation remains unclear, Maas also recently confirmed that ACOTAR book 6 is coming later this year.

For now, the television project may be on hold, but the author indicated she is determined to ensure that any future adaptation remains true to the world she created.