There are tons offantasyprojects in ontogeny in Hollywood , and many that were antecedently report on have move dark , lacking updates in late eld . The process of getting a illusion book adapted into film or goggle box is an immense challenge with legion hurdles to overcome . However , with the Brobdingnagian popularity ofGame of Thrones , the other 2020s saw a period where various cyclosis service of process all wanted to reduplicate this success , resulting in shows likeThe Wheel of TimeandHouse of the Dragonand new claim expanding onThe Lord of the Ringsmovies .

Despite some beloved fantasy series being adapted , none of the late shows have reached the same stage of critical or cultural plaudits asGame of Thrones . Because of this , Hollywood has quickly grown more hesitating regarding what fantasy they ’re willing to commit in . Warner Bros. is still develop itsHarry Potterreboot seriesand newLOTRfilms , but titles likeBest Served Cold , which are less dominant to the general populace , have been dillydally . The 2023 WGA and SAG - AFTRA ten-strike are a big cause for delays , but many of these titles have struggled to get off the ground for years .

11Mistborn

By Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson’sMistbornis one of the most pop titles in twenty-first - 100 fantasy , and it ’s shocking the film adaptation has n’t hail together after over a decade of various attack . Theauthor shared that in 2023 , prior to the Hollywood strikes , aMistbornmovie was as close as ever to being developed , with nameless noted actors attached to star in the project . Recently , the author ’s annualState of Sandersonblog stake explicate that the movie was back to square one .

Brandon Sanderson ’s Cosmere Universeis the most expansive world in modern-day phantasy , and the fact that it could offer a exchangeable appeal to the MCU should be renowned to studio seek to develop it . That being say , his stories use an abundance of magic trick and have vastly different humankind mise en scene , sothe budget required to do it right may induce studios to shy away in an geological era where many undertaking in the literary genre are struggling .

10The Kingkiller Chronicle

By Patrick Rothfuss

The Kingkiller Chroniclebeing stuck in development blaze is uproarious for two reasons . First , the final account book in the planned trilogy by Patrick Rothfuss is also bind in development hell , as readers have been waiting since 2011 for it . That ’s just as long as readers have been hold off for George R.R. Martin’sThe Winds of Winter . With that in mind , the 2d ground is thatadapting a show without completed informant cloth could easily result in the same problems asGame of Thrones .

Fantasy often has exciting opponent , and some iconic book baddie are even more interesting than the fighter of their respective stories .

In 2015 , development for this adjustment was declare for the first clip with Lionsgate mark to distribute it . In 2017,Hamiltoncreator Lin - Manuel Miranda was attached to executive director produce the series . To top that off , Sam Rami was attached to direct the undertaking in 2018 , meaning two esteemed figure and a famous company were on dining table . As of January 2025 , it ’s been a while since any update have been revealed .

book covers of Shadow and Bone and A Song of Ice & Fire

9A Court of Thorns & Roses

By Sarah J. Maas

Anyone who ’s familiar with contemporary fantasy has in all likelihood pick up of Sarah J. Maas’A Court of Thrones & Roses , a deed that blow up on social culture medium and splendidly blends the genre with spicy Latinian language . ATV adaptation ofACOTARseems like a no - brainer , given how big of a striking the books are , andHulu was the streaming serve that claimed the deed of conveyance , with Ronald D. Moore ( Outlander , Star Trek ) attached to produce . He has since start out from the project .

Hulu obtained the right to the material back in 2021 , and since Moore ’s divergence , there has n’t been a replacement showrunner instated . A Court of Thorns & Rosesmay have fall down under the category of phantasy , but it targets a generally different audience pool than a serial likeThe Wheel of Time , meaning it would n’t of necessity experience the same pitfalls and regain viewership .

8Best Served Cold

By Joe Abercrombie

Best Served Coldis another version that seems to have collapse for the sentence being follow the WGA and SAG - AFTRA smasher , with news first unblock in May 2023 ( viaDeadline ) . This book is astandalone fantasy novel set inThe First Lawuniverse by Joe Abercrombie , another larger-than-life saga that will hopefully someday regain its way to film or tv . When it was first reported that the film was in development , Tim Miller ( Deadpool ) was set to direct .

Rebecca Ferguson , who ’s star in popular book adaptation titles likeDuneandSilo , was attached to the projection to play the leading role

afford Joe Abercrombie ’s aptitude for force in his novel , bringing on Miller seemed like a fantastic choice . what is more , Rebecca Ferguson , who ’s starred in popular record adaptation title likeDuneandSilo , was attached to the labor to bet the chair role . That ’s a marvelous starting point , but there ’s been no newsworthiness on the adaptation since .

Henry Cavill in The Witcher, Dawn in Buffy, and Glenn in The Walking Dead

7The Chronicles Of Amber

By Roger Zelazny

The Chronicles of Amberis a phantasy saga that began in the 1970s , written by Roger Zelazny . In early 2023 , a television system adaptation of the serial was denote , withlate - night show server Stephen Colbert set to assist bring forth the project . Colbert , who ’s long been a dedicated sports fan of phantasy and skill fabrication novels likeThe Lord of the RingsandDune , may not have experience in this eccentric of television , but he ’s sure enough passionate about the projection .

The Chronicles of Amberseries is cited as one of the main inspiration for George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Firebook series , and the author himself even put forward that he ’d care to see the serial get made ( viaMartin ’s blog ) . With that in mind , it should be an ideal prospect in the streaming service warfare over the nextGame of Thrones , but there ’s been no news since the first promulgation was made two long time ago .

6Circe

By Madeline Miller

Madeline Miller ’s books are some of the most critically hail fantastical works of the 2010s . Her novel , Circe , is arevisionist version of Homer’sThe Odysseywritten from the position of Circe , the fabulous sorceress and goddess that traps Odysseus and his workforce on her island . In the book , she ’s a far more sympathetic figure , with Miller demonstrating how she was ostracized by her sire and the Grecian pantheon .

Deadlinereported on anadaptation ofCircebeing educate by HBO Max ( now just Max ) , with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver ( Rise of the Planet of the Apes , Jurassic World ) pose to write and bring about . It ’s another serial that ’s barely find out news since , despite Madeline Miller in person harbinger the serial on her web log . The COVID-19 Pandemic belike interfered with production , but it ’s scandalous there have n’t been any update .

5The Inheritance Cycle

By Christopher Paolini

From character deaths and introductions to unfortunate plot developments , these fantasy telly minute were extremely controversial with viewers .

4Malazan Book Of The Fallen

By Steven Erickson

Malazan Book of the Fallenis another epical fantasy serial on the graduated table ofThe Wheel of TimeandA Song of Ice & Fire , meaning it could be the type of multi - superimposed , addiction - desirable television Hollywood is look for . The original series , written by Steven Erickson , began in 1999 with ten volumes between then and 2011 . Since then , Erickson and collaborator Ian Cameron Esslemont have been expanding the world with other novels set in the universe .

Malazanis a book saga with top - level adaption voltage , and growing was announced for an version in 2023.Steven Erickson stated in a 2024 Facebook AMA that progression was still being made but that the projection was slowed downby the smash the anterior year . There has n’t been a Holy Scripture in the retiring year , but the most recent update is still that it ’s slowly being break off away at .

3

2Earthsea

By Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin is an realised author known for her exceptional work in the fantasy and sci - fi musical style throughout the 20th century . Her fantasy serial , which began withA Wizard of Earthseain 1968 , has been cited as an influence onHarry Potter , as it ’s one of the first floor to feature a wizard school . It ’s been adapted twice already , though neither adaptation has accomplish the winner this saga merit .

A mini - series calledLegend of Earthseawas released in 2004 , but the adaptation interpret misfortunate recapitulation , let in a 52 % on Rotten Tomatoes . Studio Ghibli also had an anime version that arrive out in 2006 , receiving an even lower account of 37 % . In 2019,Deadlinereported a newTV adaptation with A24 set to develop the project . Again , despite a promising ship’s company name attached , Earthseastill has n’t found its direction to a right alive - natural action serial .

I-Loved-The-Righteous-Gemstones'-Series-Ending,-But-I-Still-Think-Danny-McBride-Made-The-Best-Finale-2-Years-Before-v1

Covers of The Final Empire and A Court of Thorns & Roses

Custom image by Ana Nieves

Joe Abercrombie book covers

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Chronicles of Amber TV show in the works

Cover crops of Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Anomander Rake on the cover of Malazan’s first book, gardens of the moon.

Collage of Earthsea book covers