Development Deal for Crimson Moth
Georgia Lee, Joe Henderson, and Chad Kennedy have secured the rights to Kristen Ciccarelli’s internationally bestselling fantasy romance series, Crimson Moth. The trio is now moving ahead with a television adaptation. Kim Shumway, known for her work on the series The 100, is currently writing the script. The project is being shopped to potential buyers as the production team seeks a home for the series.
This development comes as the publishing side of the property gains momentum. Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan, has finalized a deal for the third and fourth books in the series. The third installment, titled Dark Descent, is scheduled for release in August 2027. Foreign rights are already active, with sales confirmed in markets including Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Growth of the Romantasy Market
The original series launch, Heartless Hunter, tells the story of a witch who hides in plain sight and the hunter tasked with finding her. The book gained a large following on platforms like BookTok, becoming a verified bestseller with more than one million copies sold across the United States and Canada. It has since appeared in 24 languages.
This trend reflects a wider move within the entertainment industry toward the romantasy genre. Major studios are betting heavily on these adaptations. Prime Video is working on an adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing, while Sony Pictures Television is developing a series based on Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash. Other recent moves include a deal for Sheila Masterson’s The Poison Daughter and a film version of Devney Perry’s Shield of Sparrows in production at Amazon MGM.
Next Steps for the Adaptation
Industry experts note that the success of these book-to-screen pipelines is changing how networks evaluate potential dramas. Adapting established fan-favorite series reduces risk. UTA brokered the film and television deal for Ciccarelli. Representation for the book deals remains with Danielle Burby at Mad Woman Literary for the United States and Taryn Fagerness at Taryn Fagerness Agency for international territories.
The industry will watch closely to see which streamer or network secures the rights for this project. With a global fan base already established, the team behind the adaptation has a clear roadmap for audience engagement. Success for the series could mirror the impact of other high-profile romantasy shows entering the pipeline. Production timelines and casting announcements will follow once a studio partner is signed.