If a book or series is truly special to me, I’m happy to be patient and wait for a good screen adaptation, even if it takes a long time. I strongly believe it’s better to do something well or not at all, and that definitely applies to Neal Shusterman’s Arc of a Scythe series. It’s one of my favorite young adult sci-fi stories, and I’m hoping for a fantastic adaptation. And good news for fans of the series – alongside the adaptation news, there are also prequel books coming out!
What The Arc Of A Scythe Series Is About
If you’ve read the books, feel free to skip this part!
Neal Shusterman’s Scythe series takes place in a future where people no longer die from illness or injury. While aging still happens, individuals can revert to a younger state if they choose. This world seems ideal, and it has advantages, but it also creates problems – especially concerning overpopulation.
In a future where humans have conquered death, specially trained individuals called Scythes are responsible for ending lives to control the population. The first book focuses on two teenagers who become Scythe apprentices. As they learn the art of ‘gleaning’ and their place in society, they uncover complex political issues and a rising conflict that threatens the entire system.
- Get Scythe (Book 1) on Amazon
- Get Thunderhead (Book 2) on Amazon
- Get The Toll (Book 3) On Amazon
- Get Gleanings (a collection of short stories set in the Scythe world) on Amazon
What We Know About The Scythe Adaptation
For years, fans have hoped to see Neal Shusterman’s Scythe adapted for the screen. Universal initially considered a movie, but Shusterman revealed in a March 2025 TikTok that they switched gears to develop a TV series. Now, it seems those plans might be changing once again.
A post shared by Neal Shusterman | Author (@nealshusterman)
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At the beginning of 2026, Shusterman provided news about how the prequel book is coming along, and also briefly discussed plans for adapting it into another format. The video included the following text:
I’ve got some exciting news while we’re all waiting for the movie! Neal Shusterman is writing prequel books about the Scythe world, and the first one, ‘Rising Thunder,’ is coming soon. It’s going to tell the story of how the Thunderhead AI first gained power and what the very first Scythes were like. I’m so excited to learn more about that era!
It looks like the project is now being developed as a movie again. While it’s still in the early stages, so details are limited, it probably won’t be released in 2026. However, it’s still planned as one of the upcoming science fiction films in development.
Also, you might have heard some interesting news about the prequel book – it looks like it won’t be a single book after all!
First Blades Book 1 Is Coming
In a January 2026 Instagram video, Neal Shusterman announced that new books set before the events of Scythe are on the way. He revealed the series will be called First Blades, with the first book titled Rising Thunder.
This is just a theory, but based on Neal Shusterman’s recent posts and a previous TikTok video, I believe “First Blades” refers to the very first Scythes. He mentioned these original Scythes in his Instagram post and discussed them in more detail on TikTok back in 2024.
The story will rewind to the origins of the Thunderhead, focusing on the very first Scythes – a group of teenagers who initially connected through social media.
He shared this information in March 2024, and details like how they met online might have changed since then. However, most of what he said almost two years ago still matches the latest news, including the series title, ‘First Blades,’ and the title of the first book, ‘Rising Thunder’.
As a huge fan of Neal Shusterman’s work, especially the Scythe trilogy and Gleanings, I’m incredibly excited to hear this will be a multi-book series! What I loved most about those books was how meticulously crafted the world was, and the idea of diving deeper into the origins of that world – not just how the Scythes came to be, but how humanity first achieved something close to immortality – is just fantastic. There’s so much room to expand on the story, and I have complete faith that Shusterman will deliver something amazing and full of surprises.
I’m curious when Rising Thunder will be released. I haven’t found a release date announced anywhere, and it’s not available for pre-order yet. The author mentioned on Instagram that the first draft of the prequel is complete, which suggests it might be some time before a release plan is finalized. Still, having the draft finished is a great sign, and I’m excited to eventually read the story!
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2026-01-11 15:10