The renowned author delved into the common pitfalls of screen adaptations and outlined his strategy to avoid them in the upcoming film series based on his own works.
Brandon Sanderson, acclaimed for his “Mistborn” and “The Stormlight Archive” series, recently shared his insights into why book adaptations often fall short. He attributes the primary issue to a fundamental misunderstanding of the distinct rules and narrative principles that govern literature versus cinematic storytelling.
Sanderson cited “The Golden Compass” as an example where creators attempted to cram too much source material into a single film, which resulted in a mere plot summary rather than a compelling narrative. In contrast, he praised “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and the early seasons of “Game of Thrones.” These adaptations, he noted, successfully trimmed non-essential material and focused on the core essence of the story, thereby preserving its spirit and delivering a more impactful experience.
Sanderson’s core conclusion is that while an adaptation must capture the “soul” of the original story, it is not obligated to replicate every single detail. He emphasizes the importance of identifying the specific narrative the film aims to tell and constructing everything else around that central idea.
He is applying this philosophy directly to his work on the “Mistborn” adaptation. While the books feature dual protagonists, Vin and Kelsier, Sanderson has opted to center the screen version primarily on Vin’s journey. He believes this focused approach will help circumvent common adaptation pitfalls.
According to progress trackers on his personal website, the screenplay for “Mistborn” is approximately 42% complete. This marks significant advancement, especially considering that the project was only about 2% complete when the adaptation was first announced in early February.
This “Mistborn” adaptation is part of a larger series of projects set within Sanderson’s expansive Cosmere universe. A streaming service has reportedly partnered with Sanderson, granting him significant creative involvement as a writer, producer, and consultant, along with final approval rights over critical creative decisions. Details regarding production timelines and casting remain under wraps. Beyond the “Mistborn” films, a television series based on “The Stormlight Archive” is also in development.