If you’re a book nerd or easily swayed by whatever novel is trending on TikTok, you have come across the hype for the fantasy book series: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas. So far, there are five books in the series, each varying in length and containing plot twists that will make it difficult to put the book down. The series was released in 2015, but it took some time to gain a steady following. Now, thanks to TikTok and people posting about it, A Court of Thorns and Roses is one of the most popular fantasy series in young adult fiction right now. Hulu is set to have a film release sometime in the future, and as of right now, the cast hasn't been announced yet. There's so much anticipation surrounding the announcement of who could be playing these iconic characters for several movies to come that it’s almost painful to wait. That being said, here’s who we would love to see cast in the first installment of the series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (in a perfect world).
10 Sophie Turner - Feyre
It’s easy to picture Sophie Turner in a role that requires her to hunt, ride a horse, and appear in several different gowns. Her experience on Game of Thrones prepares her for the role of Feyre, the main character in this film and novel. Feyre is strong-willed, tough, and not so easily bought, and Turner could slip into Feyre’s characteristics without pause. She provides for her family, grows into herself when she’s taken by Tamlin, and eventually rises to power with her love by her side. Turner and James would be a showstopping duo, and it’s something we desperately want to see.
9 Theo James - Tamlin
Tamlin is described as a brash individual whose part of the High Fae, and is actually the High Lord of the Spring Court. When you first meet him in the book, he’s in his beast form as he comes to collect Feyre, and it isn't until he shape-shifts back that you get a glimpse of his true self. Tamlin could easily be played by Theo James, who has a deep voice and piercing eyes that will make you believe anything he says, even if it's a lie like the one Tamlin tells Feyre to keep her. Tamlin is damaged, selfless, and a ruler; all aspects that James could inhabit if he were cast.
8 Joseph Quinn - Lucien
Lucien, Tamlin’s right-hand man and, dare we say, best friend, is quick-witted, snarky, and graced with a silver tongue. Joseph Quinn is now mostly known for his role as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things, but he’s so much more than that, hence his minor role in Game of Thrones. Quinn is capable of being rude and slightly menacing, unapologetic for his crude statements, all the while flashing a Cheshire smile toward Feyre. It’s easy to imagine Quinn breaking down the role of Lucien, showing the balance of his character with the brashness as well as the slight selflessness he shows towards the end of the book.
7 Ben Barnes - Rhysand
Placing Ben Barnes in a fantasy genre/period piece just seems right. Rhysand (in the first book) is evil and dangerous, not a friend or enemy to our main characters, and that’s what makes him so interesting and complex. He’s cold, dresses exclusively in dark colors, and wants nothing more than to have Tamlin feel shame and anger. Ben Barnes perfectly fits the bill for this character's description, especially given his age, as Rhysand is supposed to be so old but still appears extremely handsome with no signs of withering away.
6 Lili Reinhart - Nesta
Outside of Riverdale, Lili Reinhart has proved that she should be remembered for her acting outside a show favored by teenagers. Nesta, the oldest sister of Feyre and the one who isn’t affected by the magic of the Faeries, is a hard-headed and cold character to initially like. Reinhart has a way of speaking in her roles that makes it enticing to listen and hang on to each word, so it isn’t hard to picture her in the role of Nesta, rude to her sister at first until she discovers the severity of the situation.
5 Madelyn Cline - Elain
Elain is the middle child, but she might as well be the youngest based on how she is treated by her family members. She’s gentle and emotional, caring for her father when her sisters don’t bother to, and she appreciates the little things like working in her garden when she has people who can do it instead. She is described as the softest of the three sisters, and Madelyn Cline could inhabit the role of Elain perfectly. Cline is almost unsuspecting like Elain, graceful and kind within her previous characters but ready to fight if the situation exposes itself.
4 Cillian Murphy - Attor
Perhaps it's a bit daunting to cast a person as a beast such as the Attor, but Cillian Murphy would be the perfect person to take on this terrifying bird-like creature. If his portrayal of The Scarecrow in Batman gives you any idea of how ruthless he can be, look no further than his role as Thomas Shelby in The Peaky Blinders. Murphy is fully capable of turning downright dark in his roles, so picturing him as some sort of creature that tortures Feyre isn't that hard to bring to mind. Even if he just lent his voice, if they decided to CGI Attor in, it would be enough.
3 Danny Ramirez - Isaac Hale
Isaac Hale might seem like a minor character to those who read the book and might even be cut from the movie since he didn’t provide much significance to the plot, but he was important to Feyre, so he’s making this list. Hale is the guy Feyre loses herself in before she meets Tamlin as a means to escape her current reality; the two of them meet up a few times a week to roll around in the hay before acting like nothing has happened. Danny Ramirez is charming, has the "boy next store" vibe, and is memorable enough but not overly outgoing to play the somewhat mundane character that is Issac.
2 Nicolas Cage - Mr. Archeron
In a perfect world, Nicolas Cage would play the father to Feyre, Nesta, and Elain. Their father is described as a man who lost his fortune and his wife and did little to nothing in order to either stop it while it was happening or do something to fix it after the fact. He also has a bad knee thanks to a few bad men smashing it in. Cage would successfully play this minor character, having the look and voice of a man who’s been through hardships.
1 Gemma Chan - Amarantha
Amarantha is the villain in A Court of Thorns and Roses, even though there are so many bad people Feyre comes into contact with; she is the supreme. Amarantha is described as beautiful but terrifying, charming, cruel, and downright wicked. Gemma Chan is absolutely stunning and could play Amarantha’s character in the correct way because she’s not just an evil individual. She’s desperate and lonely, something that the actress who played her would have to balance because it’s easy to think she’s just downright crazy, but she isn’t. She desires what she cannot have, and this gradually drives her insane over the many years she has been in power.