Apple TV moves into epic fantasy securing screen rights to Brandon Sanderson’s 'Cosmere' and the hype is real
From 'Silo' to 'Pachinko,' Apple TV's slate is brimming with bestseller adaptations. The streaming platform is once again set to bring a popular book franchise to the screen as a feature film and a series. Set against the backdrop of the 'Cosmere' fictional universe, both epic fantasies promise high-stakes adventure, and honestly, we are hooked. As per reports, Apple TV has secured the rights to Brandon Sanderson's 'Cosmere' universe.
The streaming platform is planning feature film adaptations of the 'Mistborn' series, whereas a television series based on 'The Stormlight Archive' is also in development, with Blue Marble and producer Theresa Kang attached to executive produce the project, per The Hollywood Reporter. Sanderson's deal with Apple TV is exceptionally rare in Hollywood, granting him a level of creative control over the screen adaptations of his 'Cosmere' universe that few authors, not even JK Rowling or George RR Martin, have ever enjoyed.
Under the agreement, Sanderson will serve as the architect of the universe, actively writing, producing, consulting, and approving key creative decisions for the projects. This unprecedented involvement establishes both the scale of his literary success and the loyalty of his fan base. Widely regarded as one of the most prolific and beloved fantasy authors today, Sanderson has sold over 50 million copies of his books worldwide across his multiple series.
Beyond traditional publishing, he has harnessed the power of his devoted fans to raise nearly $100 million through crowdfunding, including a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign that funded four novels for nearly $42 million, making it the most successful campaign in the platform's history. This combination of commercial success, fan devotion, and creative vision helped pave the way for this landmark deal with Apple TV.
Not only that, but Sanderson has also been hosting his own annual fantasy convention, which has sold out every year since its launch, with the next event scheduled for December 3–5, in Salt Lake City. Notably, the 'Mistborn' series is a hybrid epic fantasy and heist saga spanning two eras of seven novels, with a third era, 'Ghostbloods,' set 50 years later, in development. 'The Stormlight Archive,' on the other hand, currently has five books, with the latest, 'Wind and Truth,' released in 2024, concluding the first half of the story, as per Parade.
In addition to his major series, Sanderson has also written four standalone novels within the 'Cosmere': 'Elantris,' 'Warbreaker,' 'The Sunlit Man,' and 'Isles of the Emberdark.' On adapting the 'Cosmere' for the screen, Sanderson explained on his blog in 2024, "I've said no to several offers on 'Cosmere' properties over the last five years, as I was all-in on getting the Mistborn film made. Now that that has fallen through, I’m back to square one, basically, on the 'Cosmere."
