Apple TV+ Secures Cosmere Rights
Apple TV+ has closed an "unprecedented" deal to adapt Brandon Sanderson's entire Cosmere universe, prioritizing *Mistborn* for film and *Stormlight Archive* for television. This marks the first major screen adaptation of Sanderson's interconnected fantasy worlds spanning nearly all his adult original fiction. The studio's commitment to authenticity and scale suggests a high-budget, lore-rich adaptation designed to introduce Sanderson's complex magic systems and world-building to mainstream audiences.
Author Brandon Sanderson will wield an unusual level of creative control over the adaptations, a key factor in his decision to partner with Apple. He is set to write, produce, consult, and have approval power, a degree of influence that exceeds what authors like J.K. Rowling or George R.R. Martin had on their respective adaptations. Sanderson is personally writing the screenplay for the first *Mistborn* film and has indicated this is his full-time focus for the next several months. As of late February 2026, the script was reported to be about 13% complete, with Sanderson aiming to finish a draft by the summer. *The Stormlight Archive* television series already has a production company attached: Blue Marble Pictures. This company is run by Theresa Kang, who previously produced the Apple TV+ series *Pachinko*, another book-to-screen adaptation. This deal marks the culmination of a long journey for Sanderson, who first began seriously meeting with Hollywood decision-makers about a Cosmere adaptation back in 2016. After a new round of meetings with major studios in May, he ultimately chose Apple for their commitment to being a "true partner" and their track record of producing high-quality, creator-driven projects. The scale of Sanderson's literary universe is immense, with the Cosmere spanning over 20 books and having sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. The author also commands a massive, engaged fanbase, having raised over $100 million through crowdfunding for his book projects.
