8 stories from Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere we need adapted onscreen
By Daniel Roman
Matching Set!
— Jabberwocky Literary (@awfulagent) February 27, 2023
The new Mistborn trade paperbacks from @BrandSanderson and Tor are things of beauty.
The first two are on sale now, and HERO OF AGES in a few weeks. Collect them all! pic.twitter.com/f4anXOX8uh
Mistborn: the original trilogy
When choosing which of Sanderson’s works to adapt, the original Mistborn trilogy might be the most logical place to start. Set on the post-apocalyptic world of Scadriel, the first novel (originally titled The Final Empire before later being rebranded as just Mistborn) is a fantasy heist story; the goal is overthrowing a god emperor who rules with an iron fist and immense magical powers.
One of the defining aspects of many of Sanderson’s fantasy stories is his intricate magic systems, and Mistborn has one of the best. The gist is that some people are born with an innate ability to perform magical abilities. In order to perform them, they have to ingest trace amounts of certain metals, and which metals they are able to ingest affect what kinds of powers they have. Someone with an affinity for bronze can become extremely strong, while a “coinshot” can use steel to “push” other metals; this lets the person do things like throw objects with the speed of bullets or even fly by pushing against metal with a greater mass than themselves. There are a variety of metals, each with their own sets of abilities. Sanderson often uses those magics in unexpected ways.
Into this fray steps Vin, a young girl living on the streets who discovers she is a “Mistborn” — someone who can use all the different types of metals. Vin becomes essential to the heist. As the series goes on, her role grows more important and her trials more severe. What began as a heist turns into a vicious struggle for survival.
The original Mistborn trilogy is still one of Sanderson’s most well-rounded stories; it has sky-high stakes, a terrifying villain, and a band of beloved characters. The fact that it’s a complete story means that any studio looking to produce it would have the entire roadmap laid out for them. The highest hurdle would be finding a way to dramatize the magic system on the screen, but if it could be pulled off, Mistborn would work equally well as a series of movies or a TV show with three to four seasons.
