For years, fans of Brandon Sanderson have said the same thing: “These books are made for the screen… but only if they’re done right.”
Now, it’s finally happening.
In a significant announcement that sent shockwaves through the fantasy community, Apple TV has officially secured the rights to adapt all the stories set in Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe—marking the first serious, studio-backed attempt to bring one of modern fantasy’s most ambitious worlds to film and television.
And this time, it feels different. It feels real, and it feels like we are finally going to see our favorite fantasy stories come to life on our screens!
If you’ve read Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere books, you know the franchise isn’t just a setting—it’s an interconnected masterpiece.
From ash-choked empires to storm-ravaged continents, the Cosmere spans planets, magic systems, cultures, and centuries of history, all tied together by deeper rules and hidden connections that longtime readers delight in uncovering.
For fans, the idea of seeing these worlds realized visually has always been thrilling and terrifying. The scope is massive, the lore is dense, and the expectations are sky-high.
However, I am so looking forward to it because it’s Apple TV that has acquired the rights to the book franchise. If there is any studio that can do justice to an epic fantasy of such scale, it’s Apple TV. We already have proof that they can make amazing book-to-screen adaptations without major changes to the original story!
Sanderson himself gave two reasons for choosing Apple TV over other studios. He said, “The decision to pick Apple was due to two factors. First, the level of approvals and control. Apple wants to be a true partner with me, and they feel like they really get what I want to do. Second, their track record. Apple does fewer things, but with higher quality, than some other studios. I find virtually everything of theirs I watch is excellent and creator-driven.”
And it’s not just Apple TV; Brandon Sanderson’s involvement in the upcoming adaptations has me even more excited. The author will have unprecedented control over his book adaptations, ensuring that his stories transition to the screen exactly as he wrote them!
What Apple TV+ Is Adapting (So Far)
According to early reports, Apple TV’s plan isn’t a single adaptation, but it’s a long-term, multi-project strategy. The studio hasn’t picked up just one or two books for an adaptation; they’ve acquired rights to the entire Cosmere universe!
This means not only the Mistborn and Stormlight Archive series are being adapted, but other Cosmere books may also get their own adaptations in the future. Elantris, Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Sunlit Man, you name it.
We might have one of the biggest book franchises turn into one of the biggest movie/TV franchises!
But that’s going too far for now because at the moment, we have confirmation that two of Brandon Sanderson’s series are in active development, and those are the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive series.
Whether the other Cosmere books are adapted depends on how these two perform!
Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Series Will Get Feature Adaptations!
The plan begins with Mistborn, a story many fans consider one of the most accessible entry points into the Cosmere. This series is also considered one of the most beginner-friendly and one of the best fantasy books of all time.
Apple TV is reportedly developing Mistborn as a feature-film adaptation, signaling confidence in its mainstream appeal. Each book will reportedly get a separate movie, making it a complete movie trilogy!
Sanderson himself will be writing the screenplay for the Mistborn movies over the next few months. It will be his full-time job for the time being, but he has assured fans that it will not affect the schedule of his upcoming books.
However, he said that if he wants to write the screenplay perfectly, he might have to focus on it entirely.
But it is Brandon Sanderson, so his books won’t be delayed for long. And if we are getting a Mistborn movie, I am sure we fans will be okay waiting a bit more for the release of Mistborn Era 3 books.
The Stormlight Archive Series Will Get TV Adaptations!
For longtime readers, though, the real heart-stopping reveal is The Stormlight Archive getting a TV series adaptation!
These towering books feature monumental themes and characters who feel painfully human despite wielding godlike power. This is Brandon Sanderson at his most epic and most demanding, and with each book, the story keeps getting better and bigger!
The Stormlight Archive is expected to be adapted as a television series, a format that gives it room to breathe. The series features slow-burn character arcs, extensive world-building, and unforgettable moments of oaths, sacrifice, and transformation.
All these can be truly adapted and shown on screen only in a series format, and thankfully, we are getting exactly that.
While it isn’t revealed, each book in The Stormlight Archive series may get its own season. I mean, that’s how it should be; otherwise, the story will be ruined if they cram it all into one or two seasons.
If done right, this could be fantasy television at its absolute peak.
And we already have producers involved in this TV adaptation; Theresa Kang will serve as one of the show’s executive producers!
The Detail That Changes Everything: Brandon Sanderson Is Deeply Involved!
Here’s the part that has fans cautiously but genuinely hopeful: Brandon Sanderson is not stepping away from these adaptations. He’s stepping in.
Under the terms of the deal, the bestselling fantasy author will have an unusually hands-on role, serving as writer, producer, and creative overseer across the Cosmere projects. For readers who’ve watched beloved franchises drift away from their source material, this is enormous.
Brandon Sanderson has been famously open over the years about why past offers didn’t work: lack of creative control, misunderstanding of the magic systems, and pressure to simplify stories beyond recognition.
This deal happened because those concerns were addressed.
He will even have the upper hand in most cases because he will have approvals and a say in any changes to the story, if any are made at all!
This kind of involvement matters a lot to fantasy fans because, let’s be honest, fantasy adaptations are very risky.
When they work, they redefine pop culture. When they don’t, they become cautionary tales.
What makes this announcement different is the alignment: everything came together to announce a project with a massive chance of making history.
A studio known for premium, prestige storytelling, an author who understands both his world and his audience, and a universe that was deliberately built with internal rules and long-term payoffs!
Apple TV has already proven it’s willing to invest in slow-burning, high-concept genre stories. The Cosmere, with its layered revelations and interconnected arcs, fits that philosophy surprisingly well.
Where Things Stand Right Now for Cosmere Adaptation?
The news just broke, so it’s still too early to say anything, but the projects are officially in active development. No casting or release dates have been announced yet, but early groundwork is being laid for a multi-year adaptation roadmap.
In other words, this is the beginning, not the payoff.
And that’s okay. Cosmere fans are used to waiting—and to trusting that the journey is worth it.
You know, “journey before destination!”
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