I’ve been a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson for years, and while he’s famous for his incredible fantasy worlds like Mistborn and Stormlight Archive – truly modern classics, in my opinion – I was actually surprised to learn his most likely project to hit the screen is a bit more sci-fi! I’ve been following the talk about adaptations for ages, and it sounds like Mistborn is really gaining momentum for a TV show. But what’s even more exciting is that Sanderson is aiming for both series to eventually become movies, which would be a dream come true!
In a recent interview with Polygon, the author discussed the challenges facing fantasy shows on streaming services, and revealed he’d prefer to see The Stormlight Archive adapted as a film. Considering a Mistborn movie is reportedly being developed, it’s likely he hopes for a similar approach with his other popular fantasy series. However, one of his books seems particularly well-suited for television. While not as famous as his other works, it appears to be a practical choice given the current trends in TV.
Skyward Is Currently the Most Likely Brandon Sanderson Book to Get a TV Show
In his 2025 State of the Sanderson update, Brandon Sanderson shared news about his various projects being adapted for screen. While updates on Snapshot and Tress of the Emerald Sea weren’t what fans hoped for, there was positive news regarding Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, as progress is being made on both adaptations, though details are still limited. He also mentioned that the Skyward TV series is moving forward in development, though it hasn’t progressed beyond that stage yet.
We spent last year finding and choosing showrunners. We were at stage four of the process then, and while we’re still technically at that stage now, we’ve got our showrunners on board. We’re all working together to write the first episode, so we’ve made a lot of progress. Stage four can often take a long time, but we’re moving forward.
Both Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive are progressing in the adaptation process, as detailed in the 2024 State of the Sanderson report, but are currently at an earlier phase of development than Skyward. While Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive are leaning towards being adapted as movies, Skyward is planned as a TV series. Although no network or streaming service is currently attached, Skyward is the most advanced of Brandon Sanderson’s potential adaptations and therefore seems the most likely to move forward – a prediction that aligns with current trends in television and the nature of the Skyward series itself.
A Skyward Series Is in Line With Streaming’s Shift Towards Sci-Fi
As a sci-fi fan, I’ve been really impressed with Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward series, and I think it’s tailor-made for a streaming adaptation. The story follows Spensa, a young woman determined to become a starfighter and defend her planet from an alien invasion – a classic setup with tons of potential. Honestly, it feels like the perfect time for this kind of story. We’ve seen a real surge in high-quality sci-fi on streaming lately, with shows like Severance, Andor, and Fallout really setting the bar. Even newer shows like Pluribus are proving the genre’s strength, and Apple TV seems particularly invested in bringing more sci-fi content to audiences. Skyward would fit right in.
While many fantasy shows on streaming services struggle, science fiction is currently doing very well, receiving positive reviews and getting renewed for multiple seasons. Brandon Sanderson understands the challenges facing fantasy adaptations, and is carefully looking for the right partnerships to bring his Cosmere books to life. Fortunately, the success of shows like Skyward demonstrates a strong existing interest in sci-fi, which is a good sign for any potential adaptation. There’s a clear demand for these kinds of stories right now, making it an ideal time to adapt Skyward for the screen.
With No Cosmere Connection, Skyward Is Less Overwhelming Than Sanderson’s Other Books
Besides capitalizing on the popularity of streaming, a Skyward adaptation has a unique benefit. Unlike most of Brandon Sanderson’s work, the Skyward series isn’t part of his complex Cosmere universe. This makes it simpler to adapt and reduces the pressure to create a sprawling, interconnected story. Viewers new to Sanderson’s work won’t have to worry about a larger, more complicated narrative, which could be a real advantage – especially considering audience fatigue with massive franchises like Marvel and Star Wars, even among established fantasy fans.
Unlike some other adaptations, the success of Skyward won’t determine whether other stories by the author get made into shows or movies. This gives the creators the freedom to concentrate on simply making a good adaptation of the book, rather than worrying about building a larger franchise. It’s a perfect series to see how audiences respond before adapting more of the author’s work, and hopefully it continues to do well.
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2025-12-28 03:42