Beloved sci-fi novel confirmed for TV series adaptation from makers of One Piece live-action show

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Good news for Brandon Sanderson fans: a live-action TV show or movie based on his Skyward books is starting to take shape.

These stories depict a massive war between humans and a powerful alien race called the Krell. The most courageous survivors become fighter pilots, battling the aliens to protect what’s left of humanity.

The story centers on Spensa, a young woman who longs to protect her community, but is ostracized because of her father’s past. He was a soldier who abandoned his post, was put to death, and is now remembered as a coward.

According to Brandon Sanderson’s website, the story follows Spensa, who is determined to become a pilot, even though she faces incredible challenges, mirroring humanity’s fight against an alien enemy.

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The movie ends on such a thrilling note! It hints that the main character’s stumble upon something hidden in an old cave could actually give her the power to reach for the stars – it’s a really exciting idea and leaves you wanting more.

The series has four books, with the final one released in November 2023. It was very well-received by readers and even earned a nomination for the Goodreads Choice Award for best young adult fantasy.

Tomorrow Studios, the company that created the popular live-action One Piece show for Netflix, is now planning to adapt the Skyward (also known as Cytoverse) book series for the screen.

Deadline reports that a pilot episode is being developed by Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, the husband-and-wife team who previously led the popular Marvel series, Agents of SHIELD.

Currently, no streaming service or network has picked up the project, meaning the creators need to find a buyer before moving beyond the pilot episode.

Tomorrow Studios’ Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements praised Brandon’s work, saying he’s built an exciting world where bravery, inquisitiveness, and a willingness to question things can determine the destiny of worlds.

“The vision that he, Jed and Maurissa have for a television adaptation is ‘defiant to the end’.”

Sanderson shared that he’s been developing the Skyward series for almost ten years, and he’s thrilled to be working with Tomorrow Studios to adapt it for television. He called it a ‘dream come true’.

We’ll bring you more updates on Skyward’s screen adaptation as they come in.

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Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, focusing on the newest and most popular shows across television and streaming platforms. Before TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast for ITVX. He’s a journalism graduate from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-05-21 13:12