Brandon Sanderson fans have waited years for a Mistborn adaptation, so the news that Apple TV would bring the fantasy story to life on-screen — with Sanderson himself penning the screenplay — was a welcome development.
Sanderson is known for keeping us up to date on his projects' progress, something that's, happily, extending to his work on the film. His regular YouTube check-ins demonstrate that this current crack at Mistborn is plowing ahead as planned. And during a recent podcast appearance, he revealed how he plans to tackle the series's metal-based magic system, one of the biggest challenges of the jump from page to screen.
For those unfamiliar with the Mistborn books, Sanderson's magic system sees its characters tapping into various metals, with each granting the user a different power. Some characters can utilize one metal, while those deemed "Mistborn" can use them all. There are eight basic metals to start, but Sanderson brings in more as the story progresses. Reading this on the page makes it easier to digest, but fitting the complexities of it into a film's runtime is another story.
Apple TV’s Mistborn movie will have to “downplay” some aspects
On the Very Really Good podcast, Sanderson acknowledged this obstacle, likening it to the recent Project Hail Mary movie. As Sanderson noted, Andy Weir's book is "hard science-fiction," so the adaptation makes efforts to make its more technical aspects more accessible to general audiences. And the author noted that he's doing the same when it comes to his magic system, leaning into the most necessary elements and being more subtle about the rest.
"I think I'm going to have to downplay a few of the abilities," Sanderson explained. "I don't want to have so many things for people to keep track of. I'm looking at sort of...doing things where the things you like from the book are there behind the scenes, but we're not talking about them. Like, all the powers are there, but we're emphasizing a few of them. We may not even mention the other powers, but you'll be able to, if you've read the books, see that they are still canon and things like that."
Sanderson's approach is understandable, as Apple TV's Mistborn adaptation isn't just meant for fans of the books. If Apple hopes to make Sanderson's Cosmere as massive and mainstream as Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings, it needs to draw viewers unfamiliar with his work. A smart approach to its most complicated high fantasy elements will be needed, then, and Sanderson knows this.
Brandon Sanderson's approach makes sense, but I hope later Mistborn movies go deeper
Mistborn's magic system risks overwhelming general audiences if handled with heavy exposition, so Sanderson's approach to this part of the movie makes perfect sense. Focusing on the most important metals and their powers will still allow the book's unique magic system to shine. And it will avoid alienating those who need to wade into his world more slowly.
From a technical standpoint, I understand where Sanderson is coming from, but I do hope that Mistborn's sequels — assuming they happen — lean further into the books' lore. Their magic system is what sets them apart from similar fantasy fare. It contributes to some of the best action of the series. It also helps define the supporting characters and plays a big role in the plot progression.
So, if Apple TV is serious about adapting the Cosmere on a larger scale, its movies and shows will need to embrace Sanderson's complexity...eventually. However, doing so after viewers are already invested is a smart move, as they'll be more open to learning. And dragging it out over multiple films won't feel too heavy-handed or hard to follow. It's the right balance, and it sounds like there will be plenty of Easter eggs and small details for book fans to pick up on still.
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