Palak JayswalWhen it comes to bringing the vast fantasy universe of Brandon Sanderson (otherwise known as the Cosmere) to life, the bestselling Utah-based author is trying his hand at something new.
The rights to two of Sanderson’s fantasy series — “The Stormlight Archive” and “Mistborn” were picked up by Apple TV earlier this year.
“My job has been to write the screenplays and convince them that these books can work in screenplay form,” Sanderson said.
“Mistborn” is being looked at for a feature adaptation, while “The Stormlight Archive” will be headed for a television adaptation.
“I haven’t made films before. … I can’t be Kevin Feige or James Gunn yet, but what I can do is I can write really killer screenplays to prove that this can all work, and then kind of be the guiding force that adds continuity to all of this,” Sanderson said.
He recently finished the first draft for the “Mistborn” screenplay.
Sanderson was a consulting producer for Amazon Prime’s “The Wheel of Time” television series, as he co-authored the final three installments of the fantasy series after its original author Robert Jordan died.
As for his own adaptations, Sanderson said fans can expect to find out who the producer for “Mistborn” is soon.
“Once I have the screenplay done and revisions done to it, then starts the director hunt, and that’ll be the big one,” Sanderson said.
He hasn’t started on the “Stormlight” adaptation yet, but is working to find a showrunner for it.
“This has been the best experience I’ve had in Hollywood so far,” Sanderson said.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brandon Sanderson, a popular fantasy author based out of Utah, stands for a portrait at the headquarters for his company Dragonsteel Entertainment in Pleasant Grove on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Palak Jayswal is an award-winning journalist who covers culture/music at The Tribune. She graduated from the University of Utah and has lived in Utah her entire life. Her work spans areas of coverage in the cultural world. She loves writing about how culture —and the people who create it— shape life in Utah. She aspires to write for Rolling Stone.