Brandon Sanderson has been consistent in his praise for one of Netflix's most popular TV shows, and it's indicative of how Mistborn being adapted into a feature film have followed the title for years, but in the author's State of Sanderson blog post from late 2024, he revealed that there's, once again, nothing in production. Fans of the author will be waiting a while longer, but that leaves time to reconsider options for how the project might look.
Bringing the Cosmere universe to the screen is one of the most exciting prospects fantasy fans could hope for, and Sanderson has been open about the challenges of doing so. One of the joys of being a Brandon Sanderson reader is that the author is fairly transparent about his process. On his podcast, he not only discusses as many details as he can about the methodology of his books and their potential adaptations, but he also talks about other media that he likes. Sometimes, these insights on other media can offer perspective on his own adaptations.
Brandon Sanderson Has Consistently Praised Netflix's Arcane
The 2 Season Show Is Beloved Among Fantasy Fans
Arcane is a two-season animated show set in the League of Legends universe, developed as a co-production between the animation studio Fortiche and Riot Games. With a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it's considered one of the best fantasy TV shows of all time, using its animation to create a vibrant spectacle that feels true to the genre. Not only is it beloved by video game players and television fans, but Brandon Sanderson has also frequently praised it, even in an interview with Polygon, which saw him critique fantasy streaming shows.
When he discusses the flaws of contemporary fantasy shows like The Wheel of Time and The Rings of Power, he states, "There is one excellent [fantasy] show: Arcane." This is major praise, especially coming from an author who's long been adamant that film is the optimal way to adapt his Mistborn books. Still, he its in the interview that Arcane was incredibly costly and would be nearly impossible for a production company that isn't Riot Games, the studio behind League of Legends.
What Exactly Made Arcane Such A Successful Adaptation
Arcane Was A Labor Of Love From Its Source Material's Studio
Arcane wasn't just an instance of Riot Games selling the rights to their IP to a studio; it was a labor of love by a studio that cares deeply about the material. The production story behind this show wasn't the typical Hollywood process. Rather than working with a well-known animation studio, Arcane was developed by a studio that had worked on Riot Games' promotional videos and music videos before, allowing for familiarity to game fans in the show's world-building. Beautiful animation aside, this is a League fan's dream show.
Arcane is a work of art among two categories of film that are often shunned or overlooked: animation and video game adaptations.
The story was written specifically for game players to be allowed familiarity while also embracing new, character-driven elements that were fresh, unique, and mature. Arcane is a work of art among two categories of film that are often shunned or overlooked: animation and video game adaptations. The combined budget for the two seasons was roughly $250 million, and the first season took six years to develop before finally hitting streaming in 2021. Riot Games took the hard route, and it paid off.
Brandon Sanderson's Comments About Adaptation Remind Us Of Arcane
Brandon Sanderson Wants To Get It Done Right, No Matter How Long It Takes
If Brandon Sanderson wanted to make a quick buck off of his IP, he could sell the rights to a studio and have a mediocre version made any day. However, the author once said, "Hollywood doesn't know what to do with people who don't need their money" (via Arcanum). Brandon Sanderson has made a fortune off his books and Kickstarter campaigns, so he doesn't need to give up his stories for a bad TV show. He can follow the Arcane format, take his time, and develop the exact project that his audiences want.
The Mistborn Adaptation I've Always Wanted Is Unlikely Now, But I'm OK With It After Brandon Sanderson's Fantasy Complaints
The Mistborn adaptation I've wanted for years isn't going to happen, but Brandon Sanderson has highlighted the exact reasons why that's okay.
Arcane cost $250 million to make for two seasons, which is undoubtedly a lot to invest in a project, but this is the author who's raised $41 million for a Kickstarter to release four books in the span of a year. If there's anyone who can transform Mistborn into a fantasy TV show, animated or not, that's unlike anything that exists right now; it's him. If he waits long enough, he'll find the right way to get it done.
Sources: Polygon
- Created by
- Brandon Sanderson
- Character(s)
- Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Marsh, Elend Venture, Waxillium "Wax" Ladrian, Wayne, Steris Harms
