The Next Big Fantasy IP: How Throne of Glass Can Fill the Hole Game of Thrones Left Behind

The fantasy TV landscape has been craving its next obsession ever since Game of Thrones ended. Sure, we’ve had The Witcher, House of the Dragon, and The Rings of Power, but none have quite recaptured that cultural “chokehold” moment when millions of us tuned in each week to experience jaw-dropping twists, unforgettable characters, and a fully immersive fantasy world.

It’s time for something fresh, something ambitious, and (most importantly) something complete. Enter Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

This eight-book series has all the ingredients to be the next blockbuster fantasy TV show, and if done right (with a budget and scope worthy of HBO or Amazon), it could fill the fantasy void in a way no other series has managed. Here’s why:

1. It fills the fantasy gap left by Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones left a hole in the fantasy TV landscape. Audiences are still hungry for sprawling political intrigue, high-stakes battles, and morally complex characters set in a rich, immersive world. Throne of Glass offers all that, plus a unique blend of assassins, fae, pirates, magic, and monsters that will keep audiences hooked.

2. It grows up with its audience.

The series starts as YA (young adult) but matures in tone, themes, and complexity as it goes on. By the end, it’s darker, deeper, and more emotionally charged, similar to how Harry Potter aged up with its readers. For a network or streamer, that means capturing a massive audience: both longtime fantasy fans and younger viewers who want to grow with the characters.

3. It’s a completed series, with room for more.

No waiting for the author to finish writing. No scrambling to fill in the blanks. Sarah J. Maas has already delivered a fully realized, eight-book saga. Studios can adapt with confidence, knowing the endgame, and avoid the pitfalls that plagued Game of Thrones’ final seasons. And yet, Maas has hinted at being open to returning to the Throne of Glass world someday. A TV adaptation could breathe new life into the series and even spark future stories.

4. The “Maasaverse” is already taking shape.

This isn’t just one series. Sarah J. Maas has created an interconnected literary universe where her stories are beginning to cross in not-so subtle ways (spoiler-free, but readers know what I'm talking about). A Throne of Glass show could easily become the cornerstone of a larger on-screen “Maasaverse,” opening the door for cameos, spin-offs, and eventual crossover moments on the scale of Avengers: Endgame.

5. It has that "Game of Thrones energy."

Let’s be real: Game of Thrones captivated the world because it combined politics, betrayal, war, and fantasy in a way that felt both epic and grounded. Throne of Glass captures a similar energy, rulers and kingdoms, shifting alliances, war councils, and high-stakes battles, all while adding new layers of magic, mystery, and romance.

6. There's a compelling, complex heroine.

Celaena Sardothien is the kind of protagonist TV needs right now: a strong, smart, complicated female lead who is both powerful and deeply human. She’s an assassin with a dark past, a young woman trying to define her own destiny, and someone who keeps surprising you at every turn. That’s a win/win for audiences across the spectrum.

7. Features a deeply diverse cast of characters.

From assassins to pirates to royals, Throne of Glass offers a vast ensemble of characters, each with their own arcs, traumas, and motivations. These are characters you fall in love with (and sometimes love to hate), providing endless opportunities for storytelling and fan engagement.

8. It’s ultimately a story about relationships.

This isn’t just a tale of war and magic, it’s about people. Every character in Throne of Glass is deeply complex, morally grey, and shaped by their own trials and tribulations. Through the series, you come to love them like friends. They make you laugh, they make you furious, and they break your heart. The emotional connection between characters will fuel online discourse and give the series the kind of jaw-dropping moments that dominate social media.

9. Every Vibe You Could Want in Fantasy

Why pick one aesthetic when you can have them all? Throne of Glass seamlessly weaves together assassins, pirate kingdoms, desert empires, fae courts, magical beasts, and epic warfronts. It’s a feast for worldbuilders—and a playground for costume, set, and production design teams.

10. The Business Case: Built-in Buzz & Cultural Impact

Here’s the real kicker: this series isn’t just a storytelling goldmine, it’s a marketing one. Imagine the online discourse Game of Thrones had in 2015, now multiply it by ten in today’s hyper-connected fandom landscape. Throne of Glass is already heavily discussed online, with ready-made talking points like love triangles, wild theories, and shocking plot twists. Add in merchandising (book tie-ins, collectibles, maybe even a Throne of Glass theme park?) and you’ve got the next big fantasy IP, one that could rival Harry Potter in cultural impact.

Throne of Glass is the kind of series that could dominate pop culture conversation the way Game of Thrones once did. It has the depth, the characters, and the narrative power to hook audiences, and with a proper budget, it could become the next big thing in fantasy television.

Studios, if you’re listening: The fans are ready. And I’m ready.

Put me in, coach!! Whether it’s consulting, marketing, or bringing this vision to life, I want to help bring my favorite book series to life and make Throne of Glass the cultural phenomenon it deserves to be.