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Disney+ Aims To Showcase One Of The Biggest Fantasy Franchises In Years But Fails Miserably
The adaptation of "ACOTAR" by Disney has struggled to gain traction and is facing multiple setbacks.
Disney had gold in its grasp with one of the most popular fantasy books in recent years, but could not translate the success to the screen. The series adaptation of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) was prepared for years but ended in disappointment. Ronald D. Moore, known for Outlander, was long involved with the project but ultimately closed the door behind him.
In 2021, Moore was announced as the showrunner for the adaptation of Sarah J. Maas's popular book series. The series was intended for Hulu, which falls under Disney. In the Netherlands, this series was then set to appear on Disney+. What initially seemed to be an ambitious fantasy series ended up stalled after years of preparation. During the San Diego Comic-Con, Moore himself confirmed his departure.
Moore indicated that the circumstances within Disney made the work impossible. "It wasn't really my decision," he stated. "The development was chaotic. First COVID, then strikes, leadership changes... all of that held the project back. Eventually, I just left." According to Moore, the series has still not been officially canceled, but further progress is absent.
Although Moore dealt with the project for years, he has no interest in reviving the series elsewhere. "No, probably not. I put a lot of time into it, but it didn't work out, so I'm just moving on," said Moore. His detached attitude speaks volumes about the frustration behind the scenes.
The status of the series is now uncertain. In February 2025, it was reported that Hulu had abandoned the plans. Since then, there has been no news about a possible takeover by other platforms, despite the popularity of the book series among fantasy and romance fans.
ACOTAR revolves around Feyre Acheron, a young woman who finds herself in a magical world after killing a mysterious creature. What begins as a variant on Beauty and the Beast, grows into a larger tale about conflicts between realms, intrigues at court, and forbidden relationships between mortals and immortals.
In 2021, Moore was announced as the showrunner for the adaptation of Sarah J. Maas's popular book series. The series was intended for Hulu, which falls under Disney. In the Netherlands, this series was then set to appear on Disney+. What initially seemed to be an ambitious fantasy series ended up stalled after years of preparation. During the San Diego Comic-Con, Moore himself confirmed his departure.
Disrupted Development
Moore indicated that the circumstances within Disney made the work impossible. "It wasn't really my decision," he stated. "The development was chaotic. First COVID, then strikes, leadership changes... all of that held the project back. Eventually, I just left." According to Moore, the series has still not been officially canceled, but further progress is absent.
Related news
Although Moore dealt with the project for years, he has no interest in reviving the series elsewhere. "No, probably not. I put a lot of time into it, but it didn't work out, so I'm just moving on," said Moore. His detached attitude speaks volumes about the frustration behind the scenes.
No More News
The status of the series is now uncertain. In February 2025, it was reported that Hulu had abandoned the plans. Since then, there has been no news about a possible takeover by other platforms, despite the popularity of the book series among fantasy and romance fans.
ACOTAR revolves around Feyre Acheron, a young woman who finds herself in a magical world after killing a mysterious creature. What begins as a variant on Beauty and the Beast, grows into a larger tale about conflicts between realms, intrigues at court, and forbidden relationships between mortals and immortals.
