Apple TV just hit the fantasy jackpot—and fans should be very interested. In a deal that seems almost too good to be true, Brandon Sanderson is officially going to be writing the screenplay for the upcoming Mistborn movie himself. That’s right—Brandon Sanderson, the mastermind behind the entire Cosmere universe, will be the one calling the shots on the big-screen adaptation of his beloved book series. And it seems like the first real step towards bringing the entire Cosmere universe to life on the big screen, with Apple as the long-term home for the franchise.
What makes the deal special isn’t the fact that it’s a big deal, although it certainly is. What makes it special is the fact that Brandon Sanderson will be calling the shots on the big-screen adaptation. Instead of the standard “sign the rights over and let us do whatever we want with it,” Brandon will be involved as the creative architect for the entire franchise, with real say over the on-screen adaptation.
Apple TV gives Brandon Sanderson full creative control
Sanderson has been candid with fans on how this came to be. During a recent trip to Hollywood last May, Sanderson met with multiple major studios that were all eager to get their hands on the Cosmere universe. However, one studio stood out to Sanderson: Apple. According to Sanderson, they weren’t just looking to acquire a new IP; they were looking to work with creators who wanted to tell new stories and were willing to do so in a patient and meticulous fashion. In essence, they “get” what Sanderson is trying to do.
The first project is a feature film based on the world of Mistborn: The Final Empire. Sanderson explained that he has spent five months writing the script full-time, with a theatrical release planned to happen first, after which comes an even bigger project: a Stormlight Archive TV series.
Of course, fans were worried that this would slow down Sanderson’s already frantic writing pace on new novels in the series. Sanderson has been candid with fans on this point as well, assuring them that the novels are still at the top of his priority list and that this level of involvement is necessary to ensure that the adaptations are done correctly.
He’ll be a co-showrunner on The Stormlight Archive series with a yet-to-be-announced experienced television partner. The bottom line? The Cosmere isn’t just coming to television; it’s coming with its creator fully at the wheel, and that’s a big change for fans of the genre.
