With the Mistborn's great magic system and characters brought to life on-screen. If the Mistborn movie is no longer in the works, it makes it unlikely that The Stormlight Archive will be adapted, too. Sanderson revealed he turned down other adaptation deals because he was "all-in on getting the Mistborn film made." Beyond that, it doesn't make sense to adapt Stormlight before Mistborn.

The Stormlight Archive Books Are Harder To Adapt Than Mistborn

They're More Complex & Require A Bigger Budget

The Mistborn movie's fate doesn't bode well for a Stormlight Archive adaptation, as the latter is more difficult to bring to the screen than Sanderson's earlier series. The Stormlight Archive books are denser and more complex, meaning it'd be difficult to capture everything readers love in a movie's runtime — and maybe even within the span of a TV show. This was already a huge concern for Mistborn, and it's a bigger obstacle for The Stormlight Archive. And if there were disagreements over how to adapt Mistborn, there will be more to debate when it comes to Stormlight.

The Stormlight Archive also boasts more magic and more action, which could be difficult to pull off during the early aughts of an adaptation. While Mistborn also faced such challenges, there's a lot less to cover there. The sheer length of The Stormlight Archive means there's more action and magic sequences, demanding more effects and a higher budget. These typically are easier to obtain when a show is already a success. But unlike a series like Game of Thrones, which waits before diving into the action, The Stormlight Archive begins with it on page one.

If A Mistborn Movie Isn't Happening, Stormlight Archive Probably Won't Either

Mistborn Is A Better Starting Point For The Cosmere

In addition to the fact that The Stormlight Archive is just plain harder to adapt than Mistborn, it doesn't make sense to bring this series to the screen beforehand. Although the two are separate entities, they're both connected through Sanderson's Cosmere. And if fantasy genre as big as the superhero one among mainstream audiences. But for that to happen, there needs to be a good entry-point to a Cosmere Cinematic Universe.

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The Mistborn books make a more accessible entry to the Cosmere, as they're less complex and earlier additions to Sanderson's extended universe. This would likely prove true for movie or TV adaptations as well, so Mistborn should lead into The Stormlight Archive on-screen — not the other way around. There are other places Sanderson's cinematic universe could start, including with an Elantris adaptation. However, The Stormlight Archive should come a bit later. Mistborn returning to the beginning delays any hopes of The Stormlight Archive being adapted.

Is There Still Hope For Mistborn or The Stormlight Archive To Be Adapted

Brandon Sanderson's Books Could Still Come To The Screen

While Sanderson's latest update looks bleak for Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive adaptations, fans shouldn't lose hope completely. Sanderson's post confirms that he holds "the rights currently for everything except Skyward and Snapshot," meaning he can still pursue adaptation deals for any other works. And the fact that the author says he's "back to square one" offers hope that he'll try to move past that point again, whether it's with Mistborn or another one of his Cosmere books.

Given the massive popularity of properties like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, studios would be wise to pursue adaptations, even if they pose challenges. They hold a lot of potential to gain popularity, even rising to the heights of projects like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Fantasy projects are still massively popular, and any series or author with a huge following warrants consideration for adaptations. Needless to say, we may still see Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive on-screen one day.

Source: State of the Sanderson

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  The Stormlight Archive

  Created by

  Brandon Sanderson

  Character(s)

  Kaladin Stormblessed, Shallan Davar, Dalinar Kholin, Adolin Kholin, Jasnah Kholin, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Navani Kholin

  The Stormlight Archive is an epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson, set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar. The series follows multiple characters, each with their unique storylines, as they navigate political intrigue, ancient prophecies, and powerful magic. Central to the story are the Knights Radiant, legendary warriors with magical abilities who must return to save their world from impending destruction. The series explores themes of honor, leadership, and the burden of power.

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  Mistborn

  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)

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