The release plan for Mistborn movie is supposed to be happening — even though Sanderson's 2023 State of the Sanderson blog post suggested development is currently paused.
Assuming the Mistborn adaptation does become a reality, its success could spawn sequels and even adaptations of Era 2 and Era 3. Mistborn's Era 3 books haven't been written or published yet, but Sanderson is planning another series that will take readers even further into Scadrial's future. It could be a while before we see Era 3, though, as Sanderson's release plan for the next series involves publishing them only after they're all written. This means the next Mistborn book won't arrive until 2028 at the earliest, but that could be good news for the movies.
Mistborn Era 3's Release Plan Means The Movies Won't Be Waiting On Source Material
The Mistborn Books Will Be Way Ahead Of Their Adaptations
The release plan for Mistborn Era 3 means readers are in for a long wait for the next book, but it also comes with an upside for the movies. Many fantasy adaptations suffer because they get ahead of the source material, something fans of Game of Thrones can attest to. This leads to unpopular differences between the books and their adaptations, which is unfortunate when a story starts so strong. With Sanderson planning to tackle all three Mistborn Era 3 books over the course of about three years, they'll probably come out in quick succession of one another.
This means the Mistborn saga won't mimic other fantasy series with massively long waits, and it also means the Mistborn movies aren't likely to get ahead of the source material.
This means the Mistborn saga won't mimic other fantasy series with massively long waits, and it also means the Mistborn movies aren't likely to get ahead of the source material. They already have a good number of books to catch up to, and the pause is further delaying that. If Mistborn sequels are green-lit, it will be a while before they get to Era 3. When they do, Sanderson will likely have all the books written, and he'll be able to guide the writers, even if they aren't all published yet.
The Next Mistborn Series Won't Be Adapted For At Least 10 Years (& The Wait Is Probably Longer)
The Initial Film's Delays Make It Even Less Likely The Adaptations Will Catch Up
While it's great that the Mistborn movies probably won't catch up to the source material of Era 3, it also won't be a relevant consideration for at least 10 years — and realistically, probably much longer than that. The delays plaguing the initial film are already making it unlikely that its sequels will ever Sanderson's source material. And even if the first Mistborn movie started filming tomorrow, it would take a long time to get through the original trilogy and the Era 2 books.
The Later Mistborn Movies Face A Bigger Obstacle Than The Books' Magic System
Bringing Allomancy to the screen will be a challenge for the Mistborn film, but the later movies may face an even greater obstacle adapting the books.
That would place potential Era 3 adaptations well over a decade from now, giving Sanderson plenty of time to work on the next series. So, while the waits for the Era 3 books and Mistborn movie are somewhat frustrating, they could work out in the series' favor, ensuring harmony between the projects.
Source: State of the Sanderson
- Created by
- Brandon Sanderson
- Character(s)
- Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Marsh, Elend Venture, Waxillium "Wax" Ladrian, Wayne, Steris Harms
The Mistborn series, created by Brandon Sanderson, is a high-fantasy saga set in the world of Scadrial, where magic is powered by metals through a system called Allomancy. The series focuses on political intrigue, heists, and the battle between good and evil. The first trilogy, Mistborn: The Final Empire, follows the struggle to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the Lord Ruler. Later books in the series, including Era 2, take place hundreds of years after the events of the original trilogy, expanding the story into new settings with new characters, all while maintaining connections to the original storyline.
Books:
Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (2007)
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (2008)
Mistborn: The Alloy of Law (2011)
Mistborn: Shadows of Self (2015)
Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning (2016)
Mistborn: The Lost Metal (2022)
