If Mistborn movie was supposed to happen, Sanderson confirmed that it's back to "square one" in his 2024 State of the Sanderson blog post.
And his recent interview with Sanderson criticizing streaming's approach to fantasy titles. He cited The Wheel of Time and The Rings of Power as evidence that streaming hasn't figured out the genre yet. But there's one fantasy series Sanderson had good things to say about, and Mistborn could benefit from using the same format.
Brandon Sanderson Had Praise For 1 Fantasy TV Show (& Mistborn Should Follow Its Lead)
The Author Believes Netflix's Arcane Got It Right
Although Sanderson believes "we haven’t seen really great epic fantasy film television since the early, mid seasons of Game of Thrones," there's one modern addition to the genre he thinks got it right: Arcane. Based on League of Legends, the animated Netflix show just released its second season at the end of 2024. And both outings of Arcane do an excellent job of blending complex characters, detailed world-building, and stunning animation to deliver a masterpiece of a series.
while the author is still hoping to turn Mistborn into a feature film, I'd be so thrilled to see an adaptation bring Sanderson's story to life in a similar manner to Arcane.
Sanderson told Polygon that, while he has doubts about fantasy television, "Arcane, I guess, is proof that it can happen." And while the author is still hoping to turn Mistborn into a feature film, I'd be so thrilled to see an adaptation bring Sanderson's story to life in a similar manner to Arcane. Mistborn boasts many of the same strengths as the Netflix hit series, from its in-depth world-building to its iconic action moments. Such aspects of the fantasy series are probably better off animated, and Sanderson's right: Arcane offers the perfect blueprint.
Why Arcane's Animated Format Would Be Perfect For A Mistborn Movie Or Show
It Lends Itself Well To The Series' Magic System & Action Sequences
Arcane's animated format would be ideal for a Mistborn adaptation, as Mistborn is an action-packed story that could be difficult to recreate in live-action. Allomancy, Mistborn's metal-based magic system, would require a significant effects budget to bring it to the screen — and even then, I'd worry about it looking awkward or cheap in live-action, an issue that even affects the biggest fantasy titles at times. Add in the fact that characters like Kelsier and Vin often use their powers to fly through the air, and a live-action take could easily come off as cheesy.
The Mistborn Movie's Best Replacement Could Still Set Up A Stormlight Archive Adaptation
Now that the Mistborn movie planned is scrapped, this other Cosmere book could be the best launch-off point for a cinematic universe of adaptations.
By contrast, an animation style like Arcane's would be well-suited for this type of magic system and the fight sequences that come with it. I'd love to see some of Sanderson's best action moments in the style of Arcane season 1's Ekko vs. Jinx. And animating the adaptation would make it much easier to depict certain aspects of the world, like the Inquisitors, whose appearance would be hard to match in live-action. It could also enable the adaptation to capture all of Mistborn's story, even if it takes more seasons, as voice actors aging out of animated roles isn't a concern.
There's One Challenge To Replicating Arcane's Success With An Animated Mistborn Adaptation
It's Still Expensive To Make A Show Like Arcane
There are several reasons an animated Mistborn show sounds promising, but as Sanderson noted in his interview, there's also a challenge to replicating Arcane's formula. While the effects required to bring a world like Mistborn's to life in live-action would demand a hefty budget, so would animation on par with Arcane's. As the author noted, "Arcane costs so much money, and it’s hard to reproduce that with an IP that doesn’t have League of Legends behind it." This might prevent a network or streamer from taking a risk on a Mistborn series in this format.
The Mistborn Movie's Disappointing Fate Confirms A Harsh Reality For Fantasy Adaptations
The Mistborn movie’s disappointing update may not be a surprise, but it highlights a harsh truth about getting fantasy adaptations off the ground.
Of course, given the massive success Sanderson has seen in recent years — both Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive are among the biggest fantasy series out there — it's possible the titles could justify the Arcane treatment. Fans of the author's work have been eagerly awaiting their jump to the screen for more than a decade now. And considering how much potential an animated Mistborn movie has, it would undoubtedly draw a large audience from Sanderson's readers alone. Just like Arcane, Mistborn would probably appeal to newcomers outside the original fan base as well, especially if handled correctly.
Source: 2024 State of the Sanderson, Polygon
- Created by
- Brandon Sanderson
- Character(s)
- Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Marsh, Elend Venture, Waxillium "Wax" Ladrian, Wayne, Steris Harms
