Lightlark movie is officially happening! The BookTok sensation is now on its way to becoming a movie, and fans are excited to see this romantasy novel finally come to the big screen!
Originally, Lightlark went viral on TikTok while author Alex Aster was simply promoting the story’s concept. After gaining traction, Aster got a publishing deal. It went on to sell several copies, and the book eventually became a New York Times bestseller.
Lightlark is the first book in the series, followed by Nightbane and Skyshade, with a fourth book announced for release later this year!
Because of the novel’s insane success, the first book in the Lightlark series was acquired for a movie adaptation. It’s currently still in pre-production, but we’ll break down everything there is to know about the current state of the Lightlark movie.
What is the Plot of the Lightlark Movie?
As with most book-to-screen adaptations, the plot of the adaptation will largely be similar to what you’ve read in the book.
However, it’s not possible to cover every single plot point and moment from the book in the movie, so expect the plot to be condensed to fit the movie’s runtime better. However, the overall plot will remain the same, so you don’t need to worry about that!
Lightlark tells the story of an island that is set to host the Centennial, a deadly game which rulers of the six realms are invited to play. This takes place every 100 years, and when you receive an invitation, you have no choice but to respond. It’s more of a summons than an invitation if we are being honest.
Each realm has a curse, and the Centennial gives its rulers a chance to break the curses that affect their realms. To end up destroying the curses, a ruler is going to have to die. One of these rulers is Isla Crown, the ruler of Wilding.
If you haven’t yet read the book, here’s the official synopsis of this romantasy novel:
Welcome to the Centennial.
Every 100 years, the island of Lightlark appears to host the Centennial, a deadly game that only the rulers of six realms are invited to play. The invitation is a summons—a call to embrace victory and ruin, baubles and blood.
The Centennial offers the six rulers one final chance to break the curses that have plagued their realms for centuries. Each ruler has something to hide. Each realm’s curse is uniquely wicked. To destroy the curses, one ruler must die.
Isla Crown is the young ruler of Wildling—a realm of temptresses cursed to kill anyone they fall in love with. They are feared and despised, and are counting on Isla to end their suffering by succeeding at the Centennial.
To survive, Isla must lie, cheat, and betray even as love complicates everything.
Lightlark Movie Release Date:
On July 19, 2022, Alex Aster posted to her Instagram that Lightlark was acquired and it was going to be adapted into a movie!
As of August 2025, there has been little progress on the movie, and no updates have been shared yet. The adaptation is still in pre-production, so we are likely looking at a release date well into the late 2020s.
That’s if the adaptation doesn’t get cancelled, which is a possibility, just like the ACOTAR TV series was. And sometimes, the project just gets stalled. So let’s hope that doesn’t happen to this one!
As such, there is no release date for the Lightlark film adaptation as of now!
Who is the Cast & Crew of the Lightlark Movie?
The movie is in pre-production, so there is currently no cast decided yet. BookTok fans haven’t let this stop them, though, and have continued to post who they hope will play their lead characters from the book.
But that’s not something I will indulge in, as I want this article to be filled with genuine information only. So, when the official cast is announced, I will update this section!
Who is Developing the Lightlark Movie?
The movie is set to be developed by Universal Studios, one of the most well-known production companies in the United States.
Temple Hill Productions, which famously produced the Twilight movies, will also be involved in the production of the Lightlark adaptation.
No other crew members have been revealed, but we do know that author Alex Aster will be one of the executive producers on the project!
Should You Read The Book Instead?
I personally think that the books are almost always better than movies, with a few exceptions, so I would always recommend you read the book before you watch its adaptation. But that’s completely up to you and your personal preference.
If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, hidden identities, and forced proximity, then Lightlark is a book that you definitely want to pick up. It’s not necessary to read a book before a movie or TV series, but it can also give you a little bit more insight into some of the aspects of the plot that might not end up in the movie!
With the movie still in pre-production, there is plenty of time for you to catch up on the book and its sequels before the Lightlark movie adaptation is released!
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