7 10/10 Fantasy Series That Will Probably Never Be Adapted (#2 Really Stings)

Many popular fantasy books have successfully been turned into hit movies and TV shows, proving the potential of the genre. Think of franchises like The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones. However, not every adaptation works. Some promising series, such as The Wheel of Time and Shadow and Bone, have been canceled, and others, like the Eragon movie, haven’t resonated with audiences, demonstrating the challenges of bringing these stories to the screen.

As a huge fantasy fan, I’ve noticed that even though some big fantasy projects haven’t quite hit the mark, studios aren’t giving up on the genre. But it’s a tough one – success is really hard to predict. There are a lot of adaptations in the works, like the Quicksilver movie on Netflix and Sony’s Hierarchy series, but honestly, it’s anyone’s guess which ones will actually get made. A lot of these projects get cancelled, or just get stuck in development forever. There are so many amazing fantasy books out there begging for screen time, but sadly, many of them probably won’t ever get the movie or show they deserve. It’s frustrating, and while I always try to stay optimistic, it feels pretty unlikely for a lot of these popular titles. I guess you never know, but…

7) The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is a hugely popular fantasy author, and his Stormlight Archive series is particularly well-known and critically acclaimed. This makes it a strong contender for a movie or TV adaptation. However, Sanderson has repeatedly said he’s waiting for the perfect moment to bring the series to the screen. He recently explained to Polygon why it hasn’t happened yet.

I’ve received numerous offers to adapt The Stormlight Archive into a high-quality TV series for cable or streaming services – all from talented people I respect. However, I’ve turned them all down because I don’t believe the timing is right for the story. I’m lucky enough to be able to prioritize what’s best for the narrative, even if it means declining excellent opportunities.

Because adapting the series for streaming presents significant hurdles, and the author understands these difficulties, it might be a long time before characters like Kaladin and Shallan appear on screen – or they might not appear at all. The books are so long and full of action that studios could be reluctant to turn them into movies, even though they’re popular.

6) Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Sanderson’s Mistborn series is another popular fantasy work, and it came closer to becoming a movie than The Stormlight Archive. Although a film adaptation was in the works, it ultimately stalled and restarted from scratch last year. Recently, Sanderson told Polygon he wants to create projects besides those two series. This suggests we might see his stories adapted for the screen soon, but it won’t be Mistborn or The Stormlight Archive.

It’s unfortunate, because the Mistborn series is truly exceptional and would make a great movie or TV show. However, Brandon Sanderson’s preference for waiting for the perfect opportunity probably explains the current situation. He’s now in a position where he can decline adaptations that don’t meet his standards. If studios and streaming services can’t agree to his vision, both Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive might remain exclusively as books.

5) The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare

Many fans consider The Dark Artifices to be the strongest series within Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles, but it probably won’t be adapted for television or film. The Shadowhunter Chronicles is a complex, interconnected story told across multiple series. Considering the previous adaptation of the first series, The Mortal Instruments, wasn’t successful on two attempts, it’s unlikely we’ll see the later stories brought to life on screen.

Since The Dark Artifices continues the story from The Mortal Instruments and includes characters fans already know, it would be difficult to adapt without revisiting the original series first. After the disappointing box office performance of the 2013 film City of Bones (which earned only $75,000 despite a $60,000 budget, according to The Numbers) and the cancellation of the Shadowhunters TV show, it’s unlikely any studio would risk investing in a new adaptation. This is a shame, because The Dark Artifices might actually work better on screen. The writing is more focused, it avoids the issues present in Cassandra Clare’s earlier books, and it offers a more complex and mature story.

4) The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss

When the first two books of The Kingkiller Chronicle were released, they generated a lot of excitement. However, it’s been over ten years since the second book, The Wise Man’s Fear, came out, and the author still hasn’t published the final installment. Understandably, many readers are now frustrated, and the series has lost some of its initial buzz. Investing time in it now feels risky. The situation is starting to resemble the long wait for George R.R. Martin to finish The Winds of Winter, and we saw how things turned out when the Game of Thrones TV show surpassed the books.

Despite several attempts, a screen adaptation of Rothfuss’s series hasn’t happened yet. Initially, Eric Heisserer was going to develop a TV show, but when the rights lapsed, Lionsgate acquired them. Unfortunately, their plans, which included Lin-Manuel Miranda, also fell through. It’s starting to seem unlikely that we’ll ever see an adaptation, and given that the books themselves are still incomplete, that might actually be a good thing.

3) Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson

The Malazan Book of the Fallen is a massive and impressive fantasy series that would be amazing to see adapted for television or film, but it presents a real challenge. This might be why we haven’t seen an adaptation yet. With ten books packed with intricate details and a very dark tone, it would require a significant financial investment. While similar elements worked well for Game of Thrones, Malazan isn’t as widely recognized, making it a harder sell. In fact, many would argue that Malazan actually has a broader scope than Game of Thrones.

There’s been talk about adapting Malazan Book of the Fallen into a TV show, but nothing concrete has happened yet. With so many networks searching for the next big fantasy series like Game of Thrones, I doubt it will get picked up at this point, though I’d happily be surprised if I’m wrong.

2) Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

It’s disappointing when fantastic fantasy book series don’t get turned into TV shows or movies, and it’s particularly frustrating when it comes to Six of Crows. Leigh Bardugo’s two-book series is brilliantly written, with a clever plot and well-developed characters – it would make a great television show. In fact, it almost happened! The characters were included in Netflix’s adaptation of Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy, and the showrunner, Eric Heisserer, has said the intention was to create a separate spin-off series for them.

The cancellation of Shadow and Bone sadly means plans for a Six of Crows series are likely off the table, which many fans are upset about. The original cast was a great fit, and it would be difficult to find another group that works as well. Plus, like Shadowhunters before it, a new adaptation would really need to understand the backstory of the books to succeed. Because of all this, it seems unlikely we’ll see a Six of Crows show or movie anytime soon.

1) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Sarah J. Maas’s fantasy romance novels are incredibly popular, but turning them into movies or TV shows has been difficult. Hulu previously intended to create a Throne of Glass series (according to Deadline) and also held the rights to A Court of Thorns & Roses, but both projects were cancelled (as reported by TVLine). What’s unusual is that other studios haven’t quickly moved to acquire the rights, which might mean Hollywood doesn’t fully recognize how well these stories could translate to the screen.

While either series could potentially be adapted, A Court of Thorns & Roses is the more likely candidate. It’s more popular than Throne of Glass, and its story is a bit less complex, meaning it would be cheaper to produce. Although Throne of Glass feels like it would make a fantastic TV show, I don’t foresee an adaptation happening anytime soon.

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2025-12-17 03:42