This is a savvy expansion into the booming romance fiction space—Hulu positioning itself as the destination for love stories with mainstream appeal. The Big Fan adaptation promises escapism and heart, exactly what audiences crave.
Sources say 831 Stories founders Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo have been quietly shopping this deal for months. Multiple streamers were circling, but Hulu's commitment to building an entire franchise around the Big Fan universe gave them the edge over competitors.
Mazur told Glamour in 2024: 'We want to be hip, horny Hallmark.' The company launched in 2024 with plans for immersive fan communities. Vacation Self releases Aug. 25 as the third book in the series.
Hulu's betting millions that romance readers will tune in weekly—and if Big Fan's devoted fanbase is any indication, this could be the streaming wars' next major battleground.
Move over, Bridgerton—there's a new player angling for your heart. Hulu has signed an exclusive first-look deal with romance publisher 831 Stories, The Hollywood Reporter exclusively announced Tuesday, giving the streamer first dibs on adapting the imprint's entire catalog of spicy love stories for television. The flagship project?
An adaptation of Alexandra Romanoff's Big Fan book series, which follows a political strategist whose career has been derailed by her "scandalous ex"—until her teenage boy band crush resurfaces and offers both a second chance at the spotlight AND potential romance. Michelle Nader, whose credits include Shifting Gears and Hulu's Deli Boys, will write and executive produce. Disney's 20th Television is attached to produce.
But here's where it gets interesting: Big Fan is just the beginning. The series already includes Square Waves—an enemies-to-lovers title—and Vacation Self, dropping August 25, which centers on a former boy band member falling for a florist. We're looking at an entire fictional universe built around romance tropes that have dominated TikTok's BookTok for years.
Co-founders Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo launched 831 Stories in 2024 with ambitions to become "hip, horny Hallmark," Mazur told Glamour last year. She compared their vision to comic books—arguing that romance readers crave immersion just as fiercely as superhero fans do. 'Any romance reader knows that feeling,' she said.
'It's always a little bittersweet to finish one.' The deal signals Hulu's serious intent to capture the BookTok demographic, which has generated billions in book sales and driven streaming viewership for adaptations like those on Netflix and Amazon. With 831 Stories offering monthly novella releases, merchandise tie-ins, community events, and even a weekly podcast called Radio 831, this isn't just a publishing imprint—it's a content machine waiting to be unleashed. Reps for the deal include UTA for Mazur and Cerulo, CAA and Hansen Jacobson for Nader.
