Apple TV+ may have its next big fantasy bet, and it is aiming high.
A new report says Apple has landed the screen rights to Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere, the interconnected universe that ties together series like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive. The same report says the first projects being targeted are Mistborn as feature films and The Stormlight Archive as a television series.
If that sounds like an attempt to plant a franchise flag, it is. The Cosmere is not one story. It is a whole shelf of stories that share a deeper mythology, recurring ideas, and long-game connective tissue. That is the exact kind of foundation studios chase when they want something that can grow into a multi-year slate instead of a one-off adaptation.
What Apple Is Trying to Buy Beyond the Books
The most interesting part here is not just the titles being discussed, it is the structure of the deal. The report describes a rare level of control for Sanderson, including writing, producing, consulting, and approvals, with the author positioned as the overall architect of how the universe translates to screen.
That matters because fantasy adaptations tend to fail in predictable ways. They get simplified until the tone feels generic, or they get rushed and the worldbuilding feels like a pile of proper nouns with no emotional anchor. Sanderson’s appeal is the opposite: rules-driven magic, clear stakes, and character arcs that pay off because the underlying world makes sense. If the author is truly empowered to protect those fundamentals, the odds improve in a big way.
It also signals confidence from Apple. Giving any creator broad approval power is a commitment, and it suggests Apple sees the Cosmere not as an experiment, but as a potential tentpole.
Why Mistborn Works as a Movie Launchpad
Mistborn is often the gateway series people recommend for a reason. The premise is clean and cinematic: a brutal empire, an oppressed population, a crew built around a mission, and a magic system that is visual by design. Characters ingest and “burn” metals to fuel specific abilities, which is the kind of rule set that can translate into action sequences audiences can actually follow.
That clarity could be a huge advantage for film. A Mistborn movie can deliver the rush of a heist story and the spectacle of fantasy without asking new viewers to memorize an encyclopedia first. If Apple wants a theatrical-scale entry point that can pull in people who have never touched the books, Mistborn is a smart first swing.
Why The Stormlight Archive Makes Sense as a Prestige Series
The Stormlight Archive is the opposite kind of challenge: enormous scope, deep history, and a setting that begs for serialized storytelling. The first book, The Way of Kings, drops readers into a world shaped by supernatural storms, ancient orders of knights, and looming threats tied to myth and war. It is built for the long-form format, where character growth and world revelations can breathe.
The report also notes producers are already attached for the television side. Even if this is still early development, that is the kind of behind-the-scenes step that signals Apple is thinking in seasons, not episodes.
A Simple Explanation of the Cosmere
If you have only heard the word “Cosmere” thrown around online, here is the clean version.
Sanderson has written multiple fantasy series that take place on different worlds, sometimes in different eras, but they share a hidden backbone. There is a creation myth at the center involving a powerful being whose death splintered its power into sixteen pieces, with those pieces influencing worlds and the kinds of magic that exist on them.
You do not need to know any of that to enjoy Mistborn or The Stormlight Archive. Most readers do not start with the big-picture lore. But from a screen-franchise perspective, that shared foundation is the gold. It means you can tell distinct stories that feel complete, while still building toward larger connections when the time is right.
Why Sanderson Is in a Position to Demand More
Hollywood likes to talk about “built-in audiences,” but Sanderson has something rarer: a fanbase that shows up, pays attention, and financially supports projects at a massive scale.
He has sold tens of millions of books worldwide, and his crowdfunding track record is in a category of its own, including a publishing campaign that became the most-funded project in Kickstarter history. He also runs Dragonsteel Nexus, a fan convention that has repeatedly drawn enough interest to sell out, and the 2026 event is already on the calendar for early December in Salt Lake City.
All of that adds up to leverage. When an author can demonstrate global reach plus direct-to-fan momentum, they are not just licensing IP, they are bringing an audience with them. That is how you end up with a deal structure that treats the author like a creative partner rather than a name on the cover.
The Hard Part Is Still the Same
Even with the right rights deal, fantasy only becomes a “next great franchise” if the execution is ruthless about priorities.
It has to look expensive in the right places, not just in CGI but in production design, costuming, and the lived-in texture of the world. It needs casting that can carry big emotional turns, not just cool silhouettes. And it needs scripts that respect what makes Sanderson’s stories work: the logic of the magic, yes, but also the humanity inside the spectacle.
If Apple commits the resources and patience to do it properly, the Cosmere could be one of the few modern fantasy properties with the depth to sustain films and series side by side. If it tries to sprint to “shared universe” moments too fast, it risks becoming another adaptation that looks impressive and feels hollow.
For now, the biggest takeaway is simple: Apple TV+ is reportedly taking the Cosmere seriously, and it is starting with two of the strongest pillars Sanderson has.
Source: THR
gfpods.com 
Leave a comment