After the cancelation of two major projects, Mistborn and A Court of Thorns and Roses, it’s become clear that nothing is guaranteed for Hollywood fantasy adaptations. Following Game of Thrones’ ending in 2019, every streaming service has tried its hand at developing the next fantasy book adaptation to rival HBO’s cultural phenomenon. However, titles like The Rings of Power, The Witcher, and even HBO’s own House of the Dragon have had mixed receptions, leading to a growing hesitation toward future projects. Combined with the 2023 Hollywood strikes, streaming service productions are more dire than ever.
Dozens of fantasy movies and shows have been stuck in limbo in recent years, including the works of prominent contemporary authors like Madeline Miller, Joe Abercrombie, and more. Those authors pale in comparison to the immense popularity of Sarah J. Maas and Brandon Sanderson, though, who are arguably the two biggest writers in the genre, pushing the genre to new heights with their work dominating social media platforms. Yet, both of them have seen their most popular titles have their adaptations canceled.
The Mistborn Movie’s & ACOTAR Show’s Fates Don’t Bode Well For Fantasy Adaptations
Two Of The Biggest Titles Have Been Canceled
In Brandon Sanderson’s 2024 State of Sanderson blog post, where he shares details on all his ongoing projects, he announced that the Mistborn movie is currently scrapped. More recently, Hulu announced the cancelation of its A Court of Thorns & Roses adaptation, marking yet another major title to be dropped. If these book series, which are among the top sellers in the genre, can’t make it to the finish line, it suggests an even more grim fate for adaptations of The First Law, Earthsea, and others that were announced in recent years.
Hollywood isn’t going to want to take risks on anything new if a broadly recognizable IP isn’t reaching its expected audiences.
Fantasy projects are incredibly expensive to produce, and they’re challenging to pull off, with each episode under a justifiably critical lens from book readers. When they aren’t met with acclaim, and even titles like Lord of the Rings aren’t performing at their expected numbers, it sets a bad precedent for everything else. LOTR is already a proven title in the movie industry, though, and Hollywood isn’t going to want to take risks on anything new if a broadly recognizable IP isn’t reaching its expected audiences. From Brandon Sanderson and Sarah J Maas, the effect trickles down to everything else.
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Mistborn Era 3: I’m So Relieved Brandson Sanderson’s Next Books Won’t Repeat One Mistake That Hurt Era 2
Brandon Sanderson seems to be planning Mistborn Era 3 with lessons from the Wax & Wayne series, and I’m excited to see the improvements.
It’s Shocking That Studios Aren’t Prioritizing Hugely Popular Fantasy Series
Sanderson & Maas Have Bigger Reach Than Hollywood Thinks
Honestly, it’s shocking that Hollywood isn’t prioritizing these two authors, as there are reasons why Sanderson and Maas are so successful in the current entertainment climate. Sarah J Maas’ books have allowed fantasy’s popularity to skyrocket to a new demographic, with its romance appeal introducing millions of readers to the genre, spreading like wildfire on TikTok.
Brandon Sanderson also offers the shared universe appeal, with his Cosmere franchise connecting all of his stories. In a world where the MCU is the highest-grossing franchise of all time, Sanderson’s books seem like a no-brainer to adapt. For two entirely separate reasons, Mistborn and ACOTAR are the fantasy projects that should be prioritized to reignite the spark.
Mistborn
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Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Marsh, Elend Venture, Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian, Wayne, Steris Harms
Summary
The Mistborn series, created by Brandon Sanderson, is a high-fantasy saga set in the world of Scadrial, where magic is powered by metals through a system called Allomancy. The series focuses on political intrigue, heists, and the battle between good and evil. The first trilogy, Mistborn: The Final Empire, follows the struggle to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the Lord Ruler. Later books in the series, including Era 2, take place hundreds of years after the events of the original trilogy, expanding the story into new settings with new characters, all while maintaining connections to the original storyline.
