Summary
- The movie adaptation of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series faces challenges due to a major character's death in the first book.
- Mistborn's complex magic system and slow-burn storytelling may not translate well into the limited timeframe of a movie.
- The absence of the beloved character Kelsier, who dies in the first book, poses a challenge for potential sequels and may affect audience interest.
The fact that Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn books present challenges for a movie, including the death of one major character in the first book. Mistborn is a fantasy book series written by Brandon Sanderson. The story takes place in the city of Luthadel, where ash rains down from the sky and the Lord Ruler oppresses his people. A young woman named Vin discovers she is Mistborn, and can use metals to gain special powers, and at the same time, s an impossible uprising against the Lord Ruler.
Despite the fact that Mistborn is a staple of the fantasy genre, it definitely isn't the easiest story to adapt to the screen. Mistborn is a unique fantasy story in general due to its complex magic system and slow-burn storytelling. Though there is no shortage of action, it is the kind of story that makes audiences work to get there, and when it comes to the limited timeframe of a movie, this may not work so well. But it isn't just Mistborn's style that will be a problem for filmmakers. Brandon Sanderson's plot alone will cause problems for the movie and its potential sequels.
Mistborn's Saddest Death Takes Place At The End Of The First Book
One particular plot point that is going to be difficult for movie audiences to accept is the death of Kelsier at the end of the first Mistborn book, "The Final Empire." Kelsier acts as one of the main characters and perspectives in Mistborn, and quickly becomes a fan favorite due to his charming personality, dedication to his plans, and his underdog ways. Kelsier is a leader, a revolutionary, and an obvious hero. Furthermore, Kelsier steps in as Vin's mentor for all things Mistborn and allomancy. In this way, audiences fall in love with Kelsier just like Vin does, which makes his death even more difficult.
Kelsier dies near the end of "The Final Empire" after he attempts to save Spook and Lord Renoux from being executed in the square. At first, it seems as though he will survive this face-off with the Lord Ruler, and in fact, this seems like the conflict the book has been leading up to. However, the Lord Ruler kills Kelsier swiftly, and this pulls the chair out from the characters and the audience. How could the leader of their revolution be killed so easily? What makes his death even more tragic is that he planned for it, using his death to rally the people of Luthadel against the Lord Ruler.
Kelsier's Absence Will Create A Challenge For Mistborn Sequel Movies
Because Kelsier is such a presence in the first book, it will be difficult for Mistborn and its potential sequels to move on from that moment. His death is so shocking, and after viewing the story from his perspective, it truly feels like a loss to have him be absent from the rest of the story. What is worse is that, of Mistborn's many perspectives, Kelsier is definitely a favorite. Although Vin is really the main character, she can become difficult to follow at times because of her constant paranoia and doubt in herself. Meanwhile, Kelsier is a more self-assured and fast-paced perspective. Overall, Kelsier's death causes a major shift.
There are seven books that take place in the Mistborn universe. The first three are considered Era One, while the last four are Era Two. The Mistborn movies would likely focus solely on Era One at first.
In this way, the end of Mistborn and its sequels could be hurt because audiences may not be as interested without Kelsier. If his death is treated in the movie as it is in the book, it will definitely be challenging to keep audiences invested, in the same way that Mistborn's characters want to give up on their revolution. To lose such an integral part of the story is a risk, and is even worse in movie form. There is only so much time to spare during a feature film, and to use a chunk of it for such tragic purposes could take viewers out of the story for good.
How The Mistborn Movies Can Overcome Kelsier's Death
Luckily, Kelsier's death is not an unfixable problem. Inevitably, the Mistborn movie will have to deviate from the book in order to fit everything in, and it will be best to change aspects of Kelsier's character and death so that his loss doesn't cost the movie its audience. The Mistborn movie should keep the story in Vin's point of view, so that Kelsier's death is not such an incredible loss. Furthermore, the story should be sure to emphasize the risk Kelsier's life is in, so that when he dies, it isn't such a surprise. Hopefully, Mistborn can prove to audiences that Kelsier's death is tragic, but necessary.
