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In a nutshell:
- Apple TV+ has secured the rights to Brandon Sanderson’s expansive Cosmere universe, with plans to develop The Stormlight Archive into a TV series and Mistborn novels into films, positioning itself to rival major franchises like Harry Potter and Star Wars.
- With Sanderson at the helm as writer, producer, and consultant, Apple aims to ensure faithful and high-quality adaptations, steering clear of common pitfalls seen in other book-to-screen transitions.
- The Cosmere encompasses a network of interconnected fantasy worlds with intricate magic systems, providing Apple with a fertile ground for building a vast entertainment franchise.
The triumph of science fiction series such as For All Mankind, Severance, Foundation, Silo, and Pluribus has evidently emboldened Apple TV to take ambitious strides. The platform has acquired the rights to the Cosmere universe, crafted by the esteemed fantasy author Brandon Sanderson.
The service intends to adapt the Mistborn novels into feature films and bring The Stormlight Archive series to life as a television show. Remarkably, Sanderson will wield nearly absolute creative authority over these upcoming adaptations – serving as the writer, producer, and consultant, making them a personal passion project.
Apple seems eager to sidestep the quality decline that marred later seasons of HBO’s Game of Thrones or Netflix’s The Witcher, which veered significantly from the source material in the absence of original author oversight. This development bodes well for Sanderson’s vast fan base, which spans millions – with over 50 million copies of his books sold and his annual fantasy convention selling out consistently.
While Apple TV+ may not command a substantial share of the streaming market compared to giants like Netflix or Disney, it has carved out a niche as a hub for ambitious series. Evidently, the platform’s leadership is keen on maintaining this standard while crafting a franchise that can stand toe-to-toe with Warner Bros’ Harry Potter, Amazon’s Rings of Power, or Disney’s Star Wars.
Details regarding Apple’s forthcoming films and series remain scarce at this point. However, we’ll delve into an overview of Sanderson’s universe to offer insights into what viewers can anticipate from the Mistborn movies and The Stormlight Archive TV show.
Exploring The Cosmere
The Cosmere serves as the backdrop for several planets within a vast universe envisioned by Brandon Sanderson. Spanning diverse genres including high fantasy, urban fantasy, and even plans for cyberpunk tales, this universe is rooted in a mysterious entity known as Adonalsium, once residing on the world of Yolen. Following Adonalsium’s demise at the hands of a group of conspirators, its power fractured into twelve elements – the Shards, each embodying a distinct Intent such as Honour, Harmony, or Odium. These Shards were assumed by Vessels who ventured to new worlds, shaping them with the power of these artefacts.
Noteworthy works set in the Cosmere include:
- Elantris (2005), a standalone novel
- Mistborn, a series of novels
- Warbreaker (2009), a standalone novel
- The Stormlight Archive, a series of novels
- Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection (2016), a compilation of short stories
- White Sand (2016-2019), a graphic novel series
- Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023), a standalone novel
- Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (2023), a standalone novel
- The Sunlit Man (2023), a standalone novel
- Isles of the Emberdark (2025), a standalone novel
Unveiling the Mistborn Film Franchise
Apple is gearing up to bring Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series of novels to the silver screen, set in the world of Scadrial within the Cosmere universe. Currently encompassing two eras, with plans for a total of four eras, this novel series delves into:
ERA ONE
- The Final Empire (2006)
- The Well of Ascension (2007)
- The Hero of Ages (2008)
- Secret History (2016), a novella
ERA TWO
- The Alloy of Law (2011)
- Shadows of Self (2015)
- The Bands of Mourning (2016)
- The Lost Metal (2022)
Dragonsteel Books
Scadrial, shaped by the combined influence of two paired Shards – Preservation and Ruin, stands as a dystopian realm in the Cosmere. Preservation embodies stability and thwarts destructive forces, while Ruin embraces entropy, fostering change and demise. Their harmonious interplay gives rise to a delicate equilibrium.
Amidst a perpetual rain of ash, Scadrial houses the Final Empire, established a millennium ago by the divine Lord Ruler. Magic reigns supreme on this planet, manifesting through three distinct systems based on metals: Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy.
The First Era novels, steeped in high fantasy elements, chronicle the endeavors of a crew of Allomancers striving to overthrow the tyrannical regime.
In contrast, the Second Era narratives, drawing from urban fantasy and steampunk influences, unfold 300 years post the initial trilogy’s conclusion, in an era mirroring the early 20th century. These books follow the exploits of lawman Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian and his deputy Wayne as they combat a criminal syndicate known as The Set.
Dragonsteel Books
Unveiling The Stormlight Archive Series
In addition to the cinematic endeavors, Apple is in the works to adapt Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive, a series of high fantasy novels situated on the planet Roshar within the Cosmere universe, into a television series.
The ongoing series currently comprises:
- The Way of Kings (2010)
- Words of Radiance (2014)
- Edgedancer (2016), a novella
- Oathbringer (2017)
- Dawnshard (2020), a novella
- Rhythm of War (2020)
- Wind and Truth (2024)
- Horneater (2026), a novella
Roshar, a planet dominated by a single supercontinent divided into three distinct regions, predominantly shrouded by ocean, is renowned for its fierce winds, tempests, and extraordinary fauna and flora.
The novels within the series boast a multifaceted narrative structure, portraying varied perspectives and incorporating numerous interludes, each focusing on a different order of the Knights Radiant, a mystical military organization.
Dragonsteel Books
Anticipating the Premiere of Mistborn Films and The Stormlight Archive TV Series
Apple has refrained from unveiling the debut dates for these projects. Given the scale of these endeavors, audiences can expect a wait of several years before the films and series hit the screens.
Translating the vast source material into scripts presents a formidable challenge in itself. Furthermore, creators must conceive a cohesive visual aesthetic for the realms of Scadrial and Roshar, followed by casting decisions, costume and set designs, and post-production work.
Potential Cast for the Films and Series
As Apple’s adaptations of the Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive series are still in nascent stages, no actors have been linked to these projects thus far.
