Now that theMistbornmovie adaptation is back to square one,Brandon Sanderson could begin the Cosmere’s adaptations with a different novel.Brandon Sanderson has become one of the most popular contemporary fantasy authors, best known for his work onMistborn,The Stormlight Archive, and other titles featured in hisCosmere fictional universe. Given the popularity of shared universes in media following the cultural phenomenon of the MCU, plus the fantasy boom followingGame of Thrones, it’s a shock Sanderson’s stories haven’t been adapted.
Brandon Sanderson has long been trying to bring his stories to life with a film adaptation ofMistborn, and he actually came quite close to accomplishing it. Before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes shut down Hollywood for months in 2023, Sanderson had aMistbornfilm in early development, sharing in his 2024State of Sandersonblog post that unnamed famous actors had signed on for the project, and everything looked ready to go. However, theMistbornmovie is now scrappedfor the time being, presenting the possibility of fresh approaches to the Cosmere.
Brandon Sanderson Should Make An Elantris Movie Now That Mistborn Isn’t Happening
Elantris Could Be Excellent As A Feature Film
It’s fair to say thatElantrisisn’t Brandon Sanderson’s best book in a literary sense. He’s even stated before that his early work was underdeveloped in terms of prose, and the 2005 novel was his first to be published. That being said, even a lower-end Sanderson book can be a terrifically fun reading experience, and the book, despite being rough around the edges at times,involves some fascinating fantasy concepts, engaging and memorable characters, and lays the foundation for ideas that are present in every Cosmere story.
Mistborn Movie’s Disappointing Update Is A Chance To Fix The Biggest Flaw In Its Original Adaptation Plan
The Mistborn movie is back to square one, according to Brandon Sanderson. It’s disappointing, but it could be a blessing in disguise in the long-term.
The inherent advantage of adaptingMistbornis that it’s Sanderson’s most widely read work, meaning it will have the highest potential audience pool if it can attract its book readers. After years of trying to getMistbornto work, though, it could be an excellent opportunity to try an alternate path, andElantrishas some of the most striking and compelling imagery in his books. It could be a fantastic way to lure movie-goers into a breathtaking new world, and it’s short enough not to have to shed as much material as some of Sanderson’s other books.
Elantris Is A Better Starting Point For The Cosmere Cinematic Universe
Elantris Was Brandon Sanderson’s First Published Book
Brandon Sanderson’s 2005 book isn’t his most popular, and it’s often not used as the starting point for readers exploring the Cosmere. That’s generally because it’s not as strong of a testing point for new readers trying out his books due to the weaker prose. A film adaptation, alternatively, would bean opportunity to correct some of the original novel’s weaknesses and elevate its strengths, especially after decades of reflecting on the story and how readers have perceived it. As mentioned, it’s still a beautiful story at its core.
If the film universe began withElantris, viewers would get to experience that same growth as a storyteller, with the additional narrative embellishments of hindsight.
WhileTress of the Emerald SeaandMistbornare solid starting points for the Cosmere,there’s something to be said about exploring an author in publication order. Readers who begin withElantrisand progress through the Cosmere all the way to 2024’sWind and Truthwill be able to witness Sanderson grow and mature as an author. If the film universe began withElantris, viewers would get to experience that same growth as a storyteller, with the additional narrative embellishments of hindsight.
It’s The Perfect Time For Elantris To Get A Movie Adaptation
Elantris Has Two Sequels Coming Soon
Now is the perfect time to begin the Cosmere movie universe withElantris, asthe book will finally be seeing sequels at the end of the decade. UnlikeMistborn, which is also getting future installments in the late 2020s, Brandon Sanderson only ever followed up his first book with short stories and novellas, leaving the novel as a standalone story set in his world. However,characters and elements ofElantrishave continued to appear in other works, meaning it still has a lasting importance to the overarching shared narrative.
If anElantrismovie were to begin production in the next couple of years, it might be ready to release by the time the sequel novel comes out, withElantris 2currently planned for a Summer 2029 release date. That would mean theElantrissequels releasing simultaneously withMistbornera 3, meaning a few years straight of packed Cosmere excitement, making it an excellent opportunity to synergize a film release with several new mainline novels.
Mistborn
Mistborn: The Final Empire is a film adaptation of Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy novel. It follows a band of misfits with magical powers as they attempt to overthrow a malevolent force that has maintained control over their world for a millennium.
