If Mistborn movie seeming like the most likely candidate to be brought to the screen. While there's nothing currently in development, Sanderson assured fans in 2023 that it was only a matter of time before his books were made into films and TV shows, but that Hollywood is hesitant after seeing how current high-budget fantasy series have performed with viewers.

The Stormlight Archive may not be Sanderson's most widely-read work, but it's commonly considered the author's magnum opus in of sheer quality and scale. With a massive audience that has helped the saga become some of the highest-rated novels ever on Goodreads, Hollywood will surely want to bank on their success. If Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere book universe is brought to the screen, casting the iconic characters will be one of the most significant challenges, as millions of viewers have formed their own perspectives on how figures like Dalinar, Vin, or Kelsier might look on the big screen.

Dave Bautista Could Be The Perfect Live-Action Dalinar Kholin

Brandon Sanderson Suggested Dave Bautista As His Dalinar Pick

Back in 2018 (via WoB), Brandon Sanderson gave his pitch for who he'd want to play Dalinar Kholin in a live-action adaptation of The Stormlight Archive, suggesting Dave Bautista has the right appearance. Audiences may have their views on how Dalinar should look, and maybe Dave Bautista isn't who they imagined, but the author's choice should undoubtedly carry some weight on the matter. Sanderson also discusses the challenge of casting Alethi characters in general, given that it's a made-up race. Read his full quote below:

Because all of the Alethi are going to be hard to cast, because they're basically half Japanese/half Arab... So I'm not sure. I've been thinking for Dalinar lately, the guy who plays Drax the Destroyer. He's half Filipino and he has just the right look for Dalinar. You gotta look at him not in his make up for Guardians of the Galaxy. Get a little silvering hair on him. That's my latest casting choice.

It's been six years since Brandon Sanderson made this statement, and Dave Bautista has only grown to look more and more like how he envisioned, even developing some of the aforementioned "silvering hair" on his own. Not only does Bautista have the right look and build, but he's also spoken frequently about his desire to take on more serious roles. Dalinar is often described as one of Sanderson's most complex characters, and it's a figure that could earn Bautista immense respect as an actor, essentially leading a franchise of his own.

The Stormlight Archive Adaptation Needs To Happen Soon If It Wants Dave Bautista

Dave Bautista Is Around Dalinar's Age Right Now

In Earth years, Dalinar Kholin is somewhere in his 50s at the start of The Way of Kings. He's a grizzled veteran who's been through a lot, but he still has some fight in him. It's a role that would require a decent amount of action, so casting an actor much older than his mid-50s would be difficult, even if the appearance is right, as it would be an intensely physical job. Luckily, Dave Bautista is 55 right now, and he's still pumping out high-octane action movies like The Killer's Game.

If Sanderson wants Bautista for an adaptation of The Stormlight Archive (which should be a TV series), then the time to get him on board is now. Adapting the first arc of the series would likely take at least 10 years of production, which would find Bautista in his late 60s towards the end. This is certainly an obtainable goal, as Bautista has been willing to take on television roles in the past, like the Apple TV+ series See. Unfortunately, though, it doesn't seem like production Sanderson adaptations will be coming together just yet.

Who Else Could Play Dalinar If Dave Bautista Can't?

Dalinar Is A Challenging Character To Cast

Assuming it takes a few more years at least until there's official news about an adaptation of The Stormlight Archive, the series might need to look elsewhere for its Dalinar. As Brandon Sanderson explained, it's going to be a difficult show for casting, as Alethi isn't a real race, and they're going to want some consistency in the looks of the characters. With that in mind, the casting for all characters in the series is going to be somewhat dependent on the studio's decision for what Alethi looks like.

Some common fan casts include Ken Watanabe and Temuera Morrison, but neither of them seems truly perfect for the role. The Stormlight Archive may need to look to unproven actors for its Dalinar. While that may seem ideal in theory, the Dalinar role is one where the showrunners may want a more proven star to bring in non-book readers, with Kaladin and Shallan being ideal for unknown actors due to their characters being younger. It's all speculative, but casting for The Stormlight Archive is one of the biggest keys to success, so it's worth discussing.