Ronald D. Moore reveals details as to why Hulu’sA Court of Thorns and RosesTV series was cancelled, explaining the decision behind its shelving. A TV show adaptation forA Court of Thorns and Rosesbookswas announced in 2021, with Moore and author Sarah J. Maas involved. However, the series' production was cancelled by Hulu in February 2025.
Speaking withSwooonduring San Diego Comic-Con, Moore explained thatA Court of Thorns and Rosesnever came to fruition because of development issues at Disney. He cited the Covid-19 pandemic and changing leadership in the company, with him eventually departing the project due to a lack of progress:
It wasn’t really my decision. I mean, I was at Disney. I was in development. It was a chaotic period. The thing about it was [going] from COVID to the strikes to a lot of shakeup in terms of Bob Iger leaves, Bob Iger comes back, and as a result, that piece of development just never got traction, and eventually I left, and the last I heard it was still in development, so I don’t know what happened to it.
Additionally, when asked if he would want to develop the project again,he said that he was okay with moving on. Check out what Moore had to say below:
No, probably not. I spent a lot of time working on it and then it didn’t happen, so okay, I just move on.
What Moore’s Statement Says About A Court Of Thorns & Roses' TV Adaptation Getting Cancelled
The Show Fell Through Due To Factors Outside Its Control
Based on Moore’s statement, it seemsA Court of Thorns and Roses' adaptationdidn’t get off the ground because of issues outside the series' control. Between the Covid-19 pandemic making work more difficult, to Bob Iger and Bob Chapek’s shifting leadership, it seemed the show had everything going against it behind-the-scenes.
It’s possible the 2023 Hollywood strikes also impacted the series' development.
While Moore doesn’t mention it as a factor,he’s also quite busy within the world of TV.As of writing, he’s currently working onOutlanderseason 8, the upcomingFor all Mankindseason 5, a spinoff of the Apple TV+ sci-fi series titledStar City, and Prime Video’sGod of Waradaptation. Despite the cancellation, he’s still making projects.
But, when it comes to those under Disney’s umbrella,it seemsA Court of Thorns and Roseswas, unfortunately, destined to meet the fateit did. Had there been less chaos surrounding its development, it’s possible the series would still be alive. Luckily, Maas plans to shop the rights to other networks when Disney’s rights expire in late Summer 2025.
Our Take On Why A Court Of Thorns & Roses' Adaptation Was Cancelled
Its Time In Development Made It Inevitable
Given what Moore said aboutA Court of Thorns and Roses' development, it seemed inevitable that the show would eventually get cancelled.Disney’s rights to the show were going to expire not long after Hulu axed the series, meaning that, even if Moore was still attached, the project wouldn’t have seen the light of day.
Luckily, not all hope is lost, since the rights will soon revert back to Maas. This meansA Court of Thorns and Rosescan still be adapted elsewhere, even if it means a different creative team will be working on it. Even though Moore’s explanation adds to the disappointment, the series' future appears to be far from over.
