A Mistborn adaptation would be fantastic, but there’s another, even more expansive fantasy series that would be game-changing if put to screen. American author Brandon Sanderson began his career with Elantris, but his Mistborn book series was the project that brought him broader acclaim, and it’s still his most-read work nearly two decades after starting it. However, while Mistborn is his most accessible work, and often the starting point for reading his oeuvre, it’s arguably not his best series. The Stormlight Archive is Brandon Sanderson’s crowning achievement as a writer, and his most expansive world.
As is the case with many popular fantasy book series, Hollywood has had its eye on Brandon Sanderson for movie adaptations for years. A Mistborn movie has gone through repeated development attempts, with 2023 seeing the project nearly coming to fruition. At Sanderson’s Dragonsteel Convention in late 2023, he revealed that they came really close to starting the production, stating that he “saw people on stage in mistcloaks acting and reading lines.” While the project likely fell apart due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Hollywood hasn’t forgotten about Mistborn or Sanderson, and it’s only a matter of time.
While readers wait for more news on the Mistborn, there’s plenty of other material in Brandon Sanderson’s world to hypothesize about. The Stormlight Archive is Sanderson’s best work, and there’s only a matter of time before it gets adapted by Hollywood as well. While Mistborn would make for excellent movies, The Stormlight Archive is too complex and expansive to fit that medium. It’d be better off as a television series, as its books rival the Game of Thrones (ASOIAF) novels in length.
Tonally, The Stormlight Archive doesn’t have much in common with Game of Thrones. However, in terms of a sprawling fantasy series with an ensemble of varying POV characters, an enormous world to explore, and mature themes, the two are more comparable. With such an fascinatingly massive story, modern television would be the perfect medium to adapt it to, and the series could offer something entirely fresh and exciting for TV audiences.
Fantasy TV shows have struggled in the aftermath of Game of Thrones, with many trying too hard to emulate the HBO show’s success, sacrificing their own identity. With Brandon Sanderson being directly involved with adapting his projects to the screen, The Stormlight Archive could receive a faithful adaptation that brings his brilliant story to life. The world of Roshar and its beloved characters are precisely the spark of life fantasy television needs.
One of the most compelling reasons to catch up on Brandon Sanderson’s books is that they’re all connected through a fictional universe called the Cosmere. Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive have referenced each other, and characters have crossed between the two. With that in mind, one of the reasons Hollywood could be so interested in Sanderson is because of the appeal for a larger cinematic universe, akin to Marvel or Star Wars.
Brandon Sanderson’s chronology isn’t as clear as the MCU’s however, and the starting point for reading his work is a bit less restricting. As of now, most of his books and series can be read individually, and reading the Cosmere isn’t necessary to understanding The Stormlight Archive or Mistborn. It’s still likely that Mistborn will be the starting point for his screen adaptions, hopefully leading to the financial success to justify an enormous budget for The Stormlight Archive.
Both Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive are excellent fantasy series, and they’re even more impactful as part of a grander Cosmere story. However, as individual sagas, the latter is Sanderson’s most impressive work. Mistborn has beloved characters like Vin, Kelsier, or Wax in era 2, but the sheer amount of time readers spend with the likes of Kaladin, Shallan, and Dalinar in The Stormlight Archive establishes a profound relationship with the characters. Each installment being over 1,000 pages allows for a slow burn fans can truly dive into and engage with.
In terms of world-building, The Stormlight Archive is one of the most impressive fantasy settings to date. The first novel, The Way of Kings, is one of the greatest modern fantasy books, yet it’s a mere glimpse at the bigger picture playing out in Sanderson’s world. The way his stories unravel is unparalleled, surpassing his other work in its audacious spectacle and keen attention to detail. A Mistborn movie sounds great, but The Stormlight Archive is the series that could redefine fantasy media, like the Lord of the Rings films or Game of Thrones before it.