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As George R.R. Martin‘s Westeros continues to expand on HBO with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth continues to fascinate audiences on both Prime Video and at the movie theater, another major fantasy book setting may soon be coming to screens. Brandon Sanderson‘s Cosmere books, which include his Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive series, have just been picked up by Apple TV.
Sanderson, fantasy fans will recall, helped finish Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time books after the author’s death; Prime Video’s series adaptation was cancelled last year. Apple TV appears to have a lot of confidence in the Cosmere universe’s lasting appeal, according to the Hollywood Reporter, which broke the news, calling it an “unprecedented deal.”
It also came “after a competitive situation which saw Sanderson meet with most of the studio heads in town,” THR reports.
It’s so unusual because “it gives the author rarefied control over the screen translations, according to sources. Sanderson will be the architect of the universe, will write, produce and consult, and have approvals,” according to THR.
The trade points to Sanderson’s power as a best-selling author (over 50 million books to date) and his robust fan base as a reason for this level of control. He’s a frequent fixture at conventions and even hosts his own annual event, Dragonsteel Nexus. He has such a following that his 2022 Kickstarter, ahead of the publication of four new books, raised over $40 million, setting a new record for the crowdfunding platform at the time.
THR reports that Apple TV is currently hoping to make features based on the Mistborn books, while The Stormlight Archive would become a TV series on the streamer.
Will Sanderson’s magic-fueled tales become fantasy TV and movies’ next obsession? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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