A Sci-fi Masterpiece’s Journey to Television Has Officially Been Cancelled (And Fans Have Waited 12 Years)

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Pierce Brown’s Red Rising was first published in 2014 and immediately became a New York Times bestseller, launching a hugely popular science fiction series. Currently, there are six novels (with a seventh on the way) and three comic book collections. Given its size and popularity, it’s no surprise people have wanted to adapt it for television or film. Brown himself began developing a version in 2018 and hinted in 2021 that a major streaming service was interested. While that particular adaptation isn’t happening, Brown has confirmed that plans are still in motion for bringing Red Rising to the screen, so fans still have reason to be optimistic.

In a recent interview with Maude’s Book Club, author Pierce Brown discussed the status of the planned Red Rising TV series. He confirmed that a series was indeed in development, but ultimately didn’t move forward after years of effort – a common situation in Hollywood. Brown explained that most projects that are optioned never actually get made, estimating the chances of success at less than one percent. He said they simply couldn’t get the series to a point where the studio felt confident in producing it. Despite this setback, Brown hinted that Red Rising might still appear in a different format in the future.

Red Rising TV Series Gets Bad News

It’s no surprise studios are interested in adapting this series. The story already has a built-in audience and plenty of source material for a long-running show, and similar sci-fi shows have proven popular. The story follows Darrow, who uncovers the truth about life on Mars in the distant future – a society divided by class – and sparks a revolution to transform it.

Pierce Brown shared that it’s taken twelve years and three attempts to adapt his novel, Red Rising, into a visual medium. While things are still in progress, he’s determined to wait until everything is perfect before announcing any details.

I’m excited to share some new developments soon,” Brown said. “Regarding a live-action adaptation – and this isn’t the TV show everyone’s talking about – the previous attempt is essentially dead. I only learned last October that it wouldn’t be moving forward. It’s not that I’m keeping secrets; it’s just that these projects can stall for years. You think you’ve found someone to help make it happen, and then it falls through. That happens sometimes. I prefer to wait until everything is finalized before making an announcement, because I don’t want to get people excited about something that might not happen.

It’s common for Hollywood to turn popular science fiction novels into TV series – Apple TV+ currently offers shows like Silo, Foundation, and Dark Matter. However, recent events like the writers’ and actors’ strikes and companies merging have led to fewer expensive projects getting approved. While it’s frustrating that the Red Rising TV series, after eight years in development, seems to be cancelled, author Pierce Brown remains hopeful, which should offer some comfort to fans. And, of course, the original books are still available.

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2026-03-11 18:46