Every Book in This Fantasy Series Is a 10/10, but It May Never Get a Movie or TV Adaptation

by

This highly-rated fantasy book series is consistently perfect, making it ideal for a TV or movie adaptation – but sadly, that may never happen. Over the past 25 years, the most successful fantasy shows and films have often been based on books. For example, The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies, as well as HBO’s Game of Thrones, all drew from existing novels and benefited from built-in fan bases. Game of Thrones especially led to a surge in new fantasy TV projects in recent years.

It’s common for announced fantasy adaptations to fall through before they’re made. With so many new fantasy books published each year, even promising stories can be missed. And sometimes, a truly great series just needs the right moment to get adapted – a moment that might never come, even if it would be a hit.

The Original Mistborn Trilogy Is a 10/10 Series All the Way Through – And It Deserves to Be Adapted

Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy is a standout fantasy series that’s ripe for a TV or movie adaptation. The story centers on a young woman with unique metal-based magical abilities who teams up with a band of criminals to take down a tyrannical empire. It’s a compelling fantasy with everything you could ask for: memorable characters, a strong sense of camaraderie, non-stop action and surprising twists, and themes that still resonate today. Plus, the first book unfolds like a thrilling heist, adding an extra layer of fun to its otherwise gritty and intense storyline.

The first book, The Final Empire, is truly one of the best fantasy novels written this century. I’ve reread it many times and it’s consistently impactful and engaging, even knowing the plot. What’s remarkable is that Sanderson maintains this quality throughout the entire trilogy. All three books are exceptional, continually building tension, offering unexpected twists, developing memorable characters, and, crucially, providing a sense of hope – something we all need right now. This makes it a perfect time to adapt the story for the screen. Its action-packed, visually rich nature lends itself well to film, and its existing popularity, combined with the potential for a larger franchise within Sanderson’s Cosmere universe, makes it an excellent candidate for adaptation.

Why a Mistborn TV Show or Movie May Never Happen

Many fans hope to see Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn adapted for TV or film, but it’s uncertain if that will happen. It’s especially frustrating because a movie adaptation was actually in the works until recently. Sanderson announced in a blog post last year that the project was canceled, essentially starting the process all over. He plans to prioritize other adaptations first, but he’s also expressed concerns about the current state of fantasy movies and shows, which might influence future decisions.

In a recent interview with Polygon, he explained his views on how streaming services handle fantasy series, stating that they haven’t quite mastered epic fantasy yet. He also shared why his popular series, The Stormlight Archive, hasn’t been adapted for television or streaming.

As a critic, I’ve been following the buzz around adapting Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive, and it sounds like he’s been fielding some incredibly tempting offers. He’s told me that despite receiving ‘very nice offers from very great people’ – think top-tier cable networks and streamers – he’s consistently turned them down. Why? He doesn’t feel the time is right for the story to make the jump to screen. He’s in the enviable position of being able to prioritize the integrity of his work over a potentially massive payday, and he’s clearly determined to wait until he feels it can be adapted properly. It’s refreshing to see an author so dedicated to protecting their vision.

It’s likely he feels the same way about Mistborn – that a good story is more important than just making an adaptation. In a recent post, Sanderson suggested that differences in creative vision were the reason the original film plans fell through. While it’s good he’s waiting for a faithful adaptation of his work, it might mean a movie is a long way off. Luckily, we can always revisit Sanderson’s stories – and all his connected worlds – by reading the books instead.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/list/5-upcoming-fantasy-shows-that-could-be-masterpieces/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-12 04:12