Brandon Sanderson used his August 12 weekly YouTube update to lay out where Apple TV’s Cosmere adaptations actually stand, and the picture is more measured than the headlines around the finished Mistborn script suggested. The author confirmed the first draft of the screenplay is complete, then immediately cautioned that the project is still in its early stages.
The Script Is Done, the Work Is Not
Sanderson said he is now collecting feedback on the completed draft and expects at least three more revisions before the script reaches its final form. That draft landed in late July, timed almost exactly to the twentieth anniversary of the original novel’s publication. Announcing it on social media, Sanderson called the finished draft an early step in a very long process while saying he was thrilled with how it turned out.
The progress tracker on his website tells the story of how fast he moved. The screenplay went from 2% in February to 50% by April to 80% in May, reaching 91% by early July before hitting the finish line. Sanderson has been writing it as his full-time job since the deal closed, which is unusual for an author adapting his own work.
A Producer Is Already Locked In
The detail that got less coverage is that the Mistborn film already has a producer attached. Sanderson revealed in July that he had made the choice but could not name the person because the paperwork was not finished. He said the announcement was waiting on the trades to report the signed deal, adding that “Hollywood deals just take forever,” and that he interviewed a long list of producers before settling on one with Emily Sanderson.
A director search comes after that, and Sanderson expects the script to sit in revisions for a while before it starts. He had explained earlier in the year that the order matters, since some of the producers he was meeting are also directors, and actors would not be attached until the script was finished.
Stormlight Is the Next Project on His Desk
Once the Mistborn screenplay is off his plate, Sanderson has said his next job is the pilot for The Stormlight Archive and then working through the full season. That series is planned at ten episodes. He has been clear he will not write the whole thing alone, saying he will bring in writing partners while handling a large chunk himself. Under the Apple deal he serves as co-showrunner on Stormlight.
The Deal Behind All of It
The Hollywood Reporter broke the Apple TV agreement on January 28, covering Sanderson’s entire Cosmere franchise. THR reported that Sanderson would function as the architect of the universe, writing, producing, and consulting with approval rights, a level of involvement the outlet said exceeded what J.K. Rowling or George R.R. Martin have had over their adaptations. That includes approval over casting.
Nobody should be watching for a release date yet. No date has been set, and speculation points to 2029 at the earliest. Other estimates have landed on late 2028 as an absolute floor once casting, filming, and post are factored in.
Also in the Update
The Mistborn news was not the only thing Sanderson covered. He has shifted back to the Ghostbloods novel and is aiming to finish the second draft of book one by late August or early September, though the book still has no official title. The update also touched on upcoming author events and a collaboration with subscription box service Illumicrate for Fires of December.
Sources: ScreenRant | ScreenRant | ComingSoon | Winter Is Coming | Deseret News | 9to5Mac | Brandon Sanderson
gfpods.com 
Leave a comment