A Mistborn movie was in development in 2023 before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes forced the production to halt, and there's been no concrete news about a continuation since.
The Final Empire will likely be the first novel of Sanderson's to be adapted to the big screen, kicking off what could be a major cinematic franchise based on his Cosmere book universe. But in order for any of that to happen, the Mistborn trilogy needs to be executed perfectly. Some aspects, such as action and character arcs, are already cinematic and ripe for the adaptation. Other crucial elements of the Mistborn story will need some tweaking in order to translate the necessary information to screen. This includes the major Lord Ruler reveal.
The Mistborn Movie Will Struggle To Adapt The First Book's Great Ending Twist
Many Of Mistborn's Biggest Twists Are Handled In Internal Monologues
It's only when Vin realizes the truth about The Lord Ruler that she's able to defeat him.
One of the most compelling aspects of The Final Empire, which makes it arguably the best Mistborn book, is that The Lord Ruler serves as this impending, larger-than-life force that exists almost entirely off-screen. He's only actually present in a few scenes, yet his impact on the novel couldn't be more apparent. Much of the story revolves around characters like Kelsier and Sazed trying to understand him and his past, with the logbook being one of the main methods of conveying information. It's only when Vin realizes the truth about The Lord Ruler that she's able to defeat him.
The Mistborn Movie Won't Succeed Unless It Gets 1 Character Casting Right
A Mistborn movie adaptation could be great, but nailing the casting for this iconic Brandon Sanderson character is essential for it to work.
But it's one thing to convey information from the logbook in a novel and another to do so in film. Sure, flashbacks could be used to display some of The Lord Ruler's backstory, but there's so much exposition and lore that goes into the plot twist that it would be difficult to pull off. There would have to be some visual clues to demonstrate Vin's revelation, but it's tricky, considering how much the twist is reliant on the consistent build-up of information throughout the entire novel.
Getting The Final Empire's Ending Right Is Crucial To The Adaptation's Success
The Climax Scene Ties The Mistborn Series Together
Pulling off The Final Empire's ending is crucial to a Mistborn adaptation, as it establishes Vin as the heroine of the series. Kelsier is crucial to the first book to help establish the world and introduce audiences to the world of Scadrial, but the audience needs to believe in Vin for a movie trilogy to be successful. Having her defeat The Lord Ruler is one thing, but making sure all the pieces fall into place is vital, as this event will come into play more throughout the remainder of the trilogy.
10 Things The Mistborn Movie Must Get Right About The Books
The Mistborn movie will need to capture certain elements of Brandon Sanderson’s books if it hopes to find success when it hits theaters.
Of course, Vin spontaneously using the mists after the earring is removed from her is crucial to Mistborn's biggest plot twist in The Hero of Ages. The chain of events following The Lord Ruler's death is really the main plot of the trilogy, and The Final Empire's ending needs to conclude itself in an entertaining manner while also laying the foundation for more stories to come. Not to mention, it's among the coolest scenes in the entire trilogy, and it deserves to be pulled off on-screen with the same impact as it does in Sanderson's novel.
How The Mistborn Movie Should Approach The Final Empire's Most Important Scene
Mistborn's Plot Twist Needs To Be Carefully Set Up Throughout The Movie
In Vin's final confrontation with The Lord Ruler, she burns the Eleventh Metal, allowing her to see a past version of The Lord Ruler from when he was Rashek. Much of this can be portrayed similarly on screen, with their dialogue exchanging much of the reveal. However, it's the build-up to The Final Empire's climax that's more difficult to execute, as it requires the viewer to understand how the Eleventh Metal works, who Rashek was, how Feruchemy works, the lore of Rashek killing Alendi, and why it matters.
Dialogue can be used to show Vin's sudden revelation rather than internal monologue, but much of the movie's approach to this scene needs to revolve around its build-up. The Mistborn movie needs to simultaneously establish the lore of its world without detracting too much from the film's pacing. A certain amount of exposition is required, but finding the balance between information and entertainment will be the key to pulling off the adaptation.
- Created by
- Brandon Sanderson
- Character(s)
- Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Marsh, Elend Venture, Waxillium "Wax" Ladrian, Wayne, Steris Harms
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.
Books:
Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (2007)
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (2008)
Mistborn: The Alloy of Law (2011)
Mistborn: Shadows of Self (2015)
Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning (2016)
Mistborn: The Lost Metal (2022)
