TikTok can't stop reading 'A Court Of Thorns And Roses', but who will star in the TV adaptation?

If #BookTok has anything to tell you, it's that you should read Sarah J. Maas' five-book series A Court Of Thorns And Roses, affectionately known as ACOTAR. 

The romantic-fantasy, which has solidified the amalgamated genre 'romantasy', tells the story of a poverty-stricken family living on the outskirts of town. The youngest daughter, a huntress, kills a wolf to feed her family. Only, it's not a wolf. 

The proceeding complications launch the protagonist, Feyre, into a world she's only heard ghost stories about, but soon fear gives way to curiosity, and even, love. 

The Beauty and the Beast-inspired storyline expands this magical new world, but all is not as it seems. There's an evil force at large, and its diabolical plans could change that world as they know it.

If you're still with us, I think we can all agree it's a good basis for a new TV show saga. And it seems we're getting just that. 

Is A Court Of Thorns And Roses TV series confirmed?

The fate of the A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series remains uncertain, though fans continue to hold out hope. With the series gaining renewed popularity thanks to TikTok, it's no surprise that attempts to adapt Sarah J. Maas's bestselling novels have been made several times over the years.

The first notable push came in 2015 when production company Tempo explored the idea. Then, in 2018, Maas teased fans with a glimpse of a script written by Rachel Hirons, shared on her Instagram. But despite this promising start, the project fizzled out.

Progress on a potential adaptation remained stagnant until 2021, when it was revealed that Maas was collaborating with Outlander creator Ronald D. Moore to bring the series to life. 

In 2022, Hulu's president Craig Erwich commented at a conference that he hadn't yet seen scripts but believed the books provided a strong foundation for a television series. 

That same year, Maas confirmed in an interview with The New York Times that she was still working with Moore. However, fans were left puzzled when Maas later deleted an Instagram post about the adaptation.

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Development on the ACOTAR series appeared to have slowed in 2024, likely impacted by the SAG-AFTRA strikes. 

Adding to the drama, in July 2024, showrunner Ronald D. Moore decided to bail on the project, no explanation given. In contrast, Variety reported that the series remained "technically in development" at Hulu, even if not actively progressing.

Meanwhile, Maas has been relatively quiet about the project on social media, possibly due to her focus on getting the sixth book in the series written. Still, whispers of behind-the-scenes plotting persist.

In February 2024, Margot Robbie — fresh off the success of Barbie — was spotted grabbing coffee with someone who appeared to be Sarah J. Maas. 

While only Robbie was clearly visible in the photo, the sighting has fuelled rumours that she may be taking on a producer role for the series. If true, Robbie's involvement could be the game-changer ACOTAR fans have been waiting for, giving the adaptation the momentum it needs.

How many seasons is ACOTAR's TV adaptation? 

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It's believed that the premise of the adaptation would follow other fantasy projects such as Outlander, where each season of the series covers a new book. 

If that is the case, the format of the series would be as follows: 

• Season 1: A Court Of Thorns And Roses

• Season 2: A Court Of Mist And Fury

• Season 3: A Court Of Wings And Ruin

• Season 4: A Court Of Frost And Starlight

• Season 5: A Court Of Silver Flames

• Season 6: Book Six (To Be Released In 2025)

What is the release date for A Court Of Thorns And Roses on TV?

There's no denying that a film in such a complex and unique world as ACOTAR will take a hot minute to make. Including casting, filming and pre-production, it could be at least two years to put a season together from when it gets the green light. 

This means we might not see the series until 2027 at the earliest.

At the end of the day, the balance hangs with the streaming platform that holds the rights to it, and if they decide to progress with the development of the series. 

Who is in the ACOTAR cast?

The book in question. Image: Sarah J. Maas

With updates on the ACOTAR adaptation remaining vague, casting speculation has become a favorite pastime for fans. While no official announcements have been made, gossip account DeuxMoi shared a blind item that sparked serious buzz. 

The post described a "fantasy series people have been dying to see adapted," with plans for "at least five seasons" of "15-20 episodes" running approximately 45 minutes each.

One detail that caught attention was the mention of "finding a cast who won't be drastically ageing over those five+ years." This clue immediately had fans thinking of characters like the immortal High Fae from ACOTAR.

However, the connection to ACOTAR is unconfirmed, and some readers speculated the blind item might instead refer to Fourth Wing, another TikTok-famous series currently under development at Amazon. With Fourth Wing's five-book arc in progress, it could also fit the description.

Still, ACOTAR devotees are determined to connect the dots. Here's a breakdown of the most-discussed fan theories from the DeuxMoi clues:

"For our moody male lead": Tamlin or Rhysand.

• "A former Disney star who paired well with this Broadway star and monogamously struggling pop star": Many think this clue points to Thomas Doherty, known for his role in Disney's Descendants and dating Dove Cameron.

• "A lying star who was meant to have a spin-off show that didn't do well": The top contender here is Tyler Blackburn, linked to the Pretty Little Liars spin-off Ravenswood.

• "A floral hotel stayer": Theo James is a fan favorite for this clue, thanks to his role in The White Lotus.

"For our leading lady, who potentially will have a double cast for her before and after": This cryptic description suggests someone capable of playing Feyre's transformation.

• "An Aussie who is often known for being American, she has her reasons why": Initially, fans leaned toward Katherine Langford (who played an American in 13 Reasons Why).

• "A singing darling who's done this all before": This clue has fans stumped as they try to pin down the connection.

• "A TikTok star who acts up a storm on her own": Addison Rae is the popular guess, given her recent acting ventures in He's All That.

What is the plot of A Court Of Thorns And Roses? 

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a fantasy novel by Sarah J. Maas that blends elements of romance, adventure, and faerie lore. The story follows Feyre Archeron, a young mortal woman struggling to provide for her family. While hunting in the woods, she kills a wolf, which turns out to be a faerie in disguise. As punishment for her actions, she is taken to the magical land of Prythian by Tamlin, a High Fae lord.

Prythian is inhabited by lesser faeries and High Fae (the powerful ones), and it is divided into courts, Summer, Spring, Autumn, Winter, Dawn, Day and Night Courts, each ruled over by a High Lord.

In Prythian, Feyre discovers a world filled with beauty and danger, as well as the 'blight', a curse that has befallen Tamlin's court. As she spends time with Tamlin and his friend Lucien, she learns about the complexities of faerie politics and the looming threat of an evil force known as Amarantha. She also meets her lackey, the High Lord of the Night Court, Rhysand, who seems to be a duplicitous character. 

Despite her initial resentment towards being in faerie territory, Feyre begins to develop feelings for Tamlin.He sends her home in an effort to keep her safe from Amarantha, but she steals back into Prythian to find that he has been taken prisoner. 

The plot intensifies as Feyre must confront trials set by Amarantha to save Tamlin and his people. These trials test her strength, intelligence, and resolve. Throughout her journey, Feyre evolves from a desperate mortal into a courageous and resourceful heroine who must navigate love, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of both human and faerie worlds.

Ultimately, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a tale of transformation, exploring themes of love, loyalty, and the struggle against oppressive forces.

And yep, you should 100 per cent read it. Check out Em Vernem's first-time recap here.

Featured image: Getty.