Prime Video is developing a film adaptation of Lauren Roberts' fantasy trilogy Powerless

Following the success of young adult hits like The Summer I Turned Pretty and Maxton Hall - Die Welt Zwischen Uns, Prime Video is once again focusing on young adult dramas with fantasy elements. Prime Video is currently developing a television series based on author Lauren Roberts’ wildly popular debut, Powerless. The series will be produced by Amazon MGM Studios in partnership with Olive Bridge and Lyrical Media and, like the book, will focus on a mix of romance, suspense, and fantasy – a genre combination often referred to as “romantisy.”



The series is being developed by showrunner and screenwriter Daphne Ferraro (pictured), who previously signed for the first season of Maxton Hall - Die Welt Zwischen Uns, Amazon MGM Studios' largest international series to date.

The first season of the series will follow the events of Powerless (2023), the first part of a trilogy that has since been expanded with Reckless (2024) and will be completed next year with Fearless (2025). The book series became a worldwide hit among teens and young adults, partly thanks to an explosive popularity on TikTok (BookTok) and YouTube (BookTube).

The series is set in the fictional kingdom of Ilya, where the privileged Elites rule with their supernatural powers and mercilessly hunt down the powerless, the so-called Ordinaries. Protagonist Paedyn Gray is one of those powerless, having spent years hiding in the slums after her resistance leader father was executed by the king. Her life changes dramatically when she accidentally saves the life of Prince Kai, the tyrannical king’s second son and a notorious Ordinary hunter.

As a result, Paedyn is dragged against her will into the kingdom’s deadly Purification Trials: a competition for the Elite where fame and power are at stake, but her survival is at stake. To make matters worse, she is confronted by the charming but dangerous Prince Kai, whose bond with her becomes increasingly complex. As they both confront their true loyalties, a forbidden attraction grows between them that could threaten both their lives and the kingdom.

With its mix of dark intrigue, sweeping romance, and epic struggles for power and justice, Powerless promises to be one of Prime Video’s great YA sensations. Aiming at the same audience that has previously fallen for The Hunger Games, Shadow and Bone, and Red Queen, the series is a strategic move within Amazon’s growing lineup of young adult and fantasy productions.