AceShowbiz - The year 2014 marked the debut of Red Rising, a sci-fi novel by Pierce Brown that quickly became a New York Times Best Seller and launched one of the most acclaimed modern science fiction series. As of now, the saga consists of six books with a seventh installment forthcoming, alongside three comic book volumes expanding the universe. Such a rich and expansive narrative naturally attracted interest from the entertainment industry to adapt it for the screen.

Back in 2018, Brown himself was actively involved in developing a television adaptation of Red Rising. By 2021, rumors circulated of significant interest from a major streaming service. However, recent developments have confirmed that the anticipated TV series will not move forward — at least, not in the form fans had hoped.

In a candid interview with Maude’s Book Club, Brown discussed the fate of the Red Rising TV adaptation. He revealed that although a series was indeed in development, it never advanced beyond the option and development stages despite years of effort. “It’s just best if something is optioned to assume it’s not being made. I mean, 99.9% of things are like that,” Brown explained. Ultimately, the project failed to reach a level of confidence necessary for production.

Despite this setback, Brown remains optimistic about the future of the franchise on screen. He hinted that a new adaptation is in the works, but he’s holding back on details until the project is fully ready to be announced. “The fortunate thing is I think I’ll be able to announce something new that I have,” he teased. He also made it clear that the cancelled TV series is no longer active, stating, “The thing that’s online is a corpse... I only found out in October of last year that the project wouldn’t be going forward.”

Brown reflected on the long journey of attempting to bring Red Rising to television, noting that over the 12 years since the original novel’s release, the series has entered the option and development phase three separate times. Each attempt ultimately stalled, a common fate for many ambitious adaptations in Hollywood. Brown emphasized the unpredictability of the process, where partnerships form and dissolve and projects can languish without progress for years.

There are several compelling reasons why producers and streamers would be eager to adapt Red Rising. The series offers a densely layered story with a built-in fanbase, perfect for a long-running television show. Set in a distant future on Mars, the narrative explores a rigid caste system and follows Darrow, a protagonist who uncovers hidden truths about the Red Planet and spearheads a revolution to overturn the status quo. This kind of complex, character-driven science fiction has proven successful in recent years.

Hollywood’s interest in major sci-fi adaptations is evident in current trends, with platforms like Apple TV+ already investing in multiple series such as Silo, Foundation, and Dark Matter. However, the entertainment industry has faced challenges in recent years, including creative strikes and corporate consolidations that have made greenlighting big-budget projects more difficult. These factors likely contributed to the stalled progress of the Red Rising adaptation.

While the cancellation of the TV series after roughly eight years of anticipation is disappointing for fans, Brown’s continued enthusiasm for the franchise’s potential screen future offers hope. The books remain a powerful foundation, and with another new project hinted at, the story of Red Rising may yet find its way to a new medium.

For now, readers can continue to enjoy the richly developed saga through Brown’s novels and comics, while awaiting official news on any forthcoming adaptations. The journey to bring this acclaimed sci-fi masterpiece to television may have hit a significant roadblock, but it is far from over.

This article is based on reporting originally published by ComicBook.com.