Legendary Entertainment is betting big on a new queer-inclusive voice in fantasy. The studio has acquired Alchemised, a romantasy novel by nonbinary author SenLinYu, in a seven-figure deal reportedly exceeding $3 million. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this marks one of the highest prices ever paid for film rights to a book.
SenLinYu, who uses they/them pronouns, shared their excitement in a statement, saying they were “honored by Legendary’s incredible enthusiasm for the project” and that they “can’t wait to see the world of Paladia come to life.” The author is already a legend in fanfiction circles, known for their wildly popular Harry Potter “Dramione” stories exploring the romance between Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger.
Their earlier book, Manacled, took that fandom in a darker direction—imagining a world where Voldemort triumphed. Alchemised started as a similar reimagining, but it’s since grown into its own universe. The novel follows Helena Marino, a healer turned prisoner, whose survival depends on resisting the mind-bending power of a ruthless necromancer. It’s set to release September 23, with a massive first printing of 750,000 copies.
The romantasy genre has exploded in popularity, selling over 32 million books last year—nearly 50 percent more than the year before. Fans who grew up on Potter and Twilight now crave stories with adult themes, richer worldbuilding, and, yes, more spice. The news also lands against the backdrop of J.K. Rowling’s continued anti-trans advocacy, which has distanced many queer readers from her work. For LGBTQ audiences, SenLinYu’s rise represents not just a new literary phenomenon but a reclaiming of fantasy storytelling from voices that have long excluded them.
