The salt mines of Endovier aren't just for Celaena Sardothien. For a decade, fans of Sarah J. Maas have felt like they’re also doing hard labor—waiting, hoping, and refreshing Variety for any crumb of news about a Throne of Glass TV show.
It’s been a long road.
First, we had the excitement of the 2016 announcement. Then, years of silence. Then, the distracting rise of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) as the "priority" project. Honestly, if you feel a bit jaded about the whole thing, you’re in good company. The TV rights for this sprawling epic have been tossed around like a hot potato, and right now, the project is basically in stasis. But "in stasis" doesn't mean dead. It just means the industry is finally realizing how expensive it is to film a story that involves wyverns, glass castles, and magic that can level entire cities.
The Queen of Shadows Era: What Went Wrong?
Back in 2016, Hulu announced they were developing a series titled Queen of Shadows. This was a bit of a weird move, naming the show after the fourth book in the series, but the plan was supposedly to start from the beginning. The Mark Gordon Company (the folks behind Grey’s Anatomy) was attached. Sarah J. Maas herself was helping with the pilot.
Everything looked golden.
Then? Nothing. Complete radio silence for years. We eventually found out the rights had quietly reverted back to Maas. It’s a common story in Hollywood: an "option" is bought, a script is written, and then the studio decides the budget is too high or the "vibe" isn't right for their current slate. Given the massive scale of Erilea, a "modest" budget would have probably resulted in some really questionable CGI. No one wants a bargain-bin version of the King of Adarlan.
Why ACOTAR overshadowed Aelin
It’s no secret that A Court of Thorns and Roses became the favorite child for a while. When Hulu announced an ACOTAR adaptation in 2021 with Ronald D. Moore (the genius behind Outlander), it felt like Throne of Glass was being left in the dust.
Fans were torn.
On one hand, any SJM on screen is a win. On the other, Throne of Glass is a finished eight-book series. It’s a complete narrative arc. ACOTAR is still ongoing and, let’s be real, a lot harder to adapt for a general audience due to its... specific adult themes.
However, as of early 2025, the ACOTAR show at Hulu was officially scrapped. It’s "dead in the water" at Disney. While that sounds like bad news, it actually clears the deck. With ACOTAR out of the way at Hulu, the rights for the entire "Maasverse" are being shopped around again.
The 2026 Landscape: Is Throne of Glass "Unadaptable"?
Some critics argue that Throne of Glass is too big. They say the internal monologues are too dense. They worry the shift from the "assassin in a castle" vibes of book one to the "world-ending magical war" of book eight is too jarring for TV.
I disagree.
Look at Game of Thrones. Look at The Witcher. People want high-stakes political intrigue and morally gray characters. Throne of Glass has that in spades. You’ve got:
- The political maneuvering of the Adarlan court.
- The brutal training of the Blackbeak witches (honestly, Manon Blackbeak would be the breakout star of any TV show).
- The slow-burn mystery of the Wyrdmarks.
The real hurdle isn't the story; it's the checkbook. To do this right, a studio needs House of the Dragon money.
Animated vs. Live Action
There is a growing faction of the fandom (myself included) that thinks a Throne of Glass TV show should actually be animated. Think Arcane or Castlevania style.
Think about it.
You wouldn't have to worry about a twenty-something actress trying to look like an eighteen-year-old assassin for ten years. You wouldn't have to spend $50 million on CGI for the fire-breathing bitch queen’s final stand. Animation allows for the sheer scale of the magic to feel "real" in a way that often looks cheesy in live action.
Where we stand today
Currently, Sarah J. Maas has regained control of her intellectual property. Reports from 2025 indicated she was looking for a new home for her stories.
Prime Video is a huge contender. They already have Fourth Wing in development. They’ve shown they aren't afraid of big fantasy budgets (see: The Rings of Power). Netflix is another possibility, though their habit of canceling shows after two seasons makes fans nervous.
The most important thing to remember is that the "Maasverse" is currently one of the most valuable properties in publishing. Hollywood knows this. They are just waiting for the right moment—and the right price—to pull the trigger.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're tired of waiting and want to stay in the loop without falling for every "fan-cast" TikTok rumor, here is what you can actually do:
- Follow the Trades, Not the Rumors: Check Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, or Deadline. If a deal is signed, it will appear there first. If it's only on a "leak" account with 400 followers, it’s probably fake.
- Support the Graphic Audio Versions: These are "movies in your head" with full casts and sound effects. They are currently the closest thing we have to a finished TV show, and high sales numbers tell studios there is still huge demand for this specific series.
- Watch the "Maasverse" Rights Expirations: Rights usually have a shelf life. Since the Hulu/Disney deal for ACOTAR ended in mid-2025, we are currently in the window where a new studio (like Amazon or HBO) would be making their move.
- Re-read with a "Director’s Eye": If you're a creator, start looking at The Assassin's Blade. Most successful adaptations now start with the prequel material to build the world before hitting the main plot.
The fire is still burning. It might just be a slow-simmering hearth instead of a wildfire right now, but Aelin Ashryver Galathynius doesn't stay down for long. We will get our show; we just have to hope it gets the budget it deserves.