Writer Brandon Sanderson, known for the "Mistborn" and "Stormlight Archive" cycles, explained why book adaptations often turn out unsuccessful. In his opinion, the main problem lies in a misunderstanding of the differences between literature and cinema.
He notes that it's not about a lack of respect for the original, but about trying to literally transfer the book to the screen. This approach overloads the plot and destroys the rhythm, since cinema and literature work according to different laws.
As an example, Sanderson cites "The Golden Compass," where the creators tried to fit in too much material, which turned the film into a retelling. In contrast, he names "Prisoner of Azkaban," "The Lord of the Rings," and the early seasons of "Game of Thrones," where the authors cut material and focused on the main thing, preserving the essence.
Sanderson's main conclusion is that the adaptation should preserve the "soul" of the story, but is not obliged to reproduce every detail — it is important to understand exactly what story the film is telling, and build everything else around it.
He applies this approach in his work on "Mistborn." In the books, the narrative is divided between the lines of Vin and Kelsier, but for the adaptation, Sanderson decided to focus on Vin's story. In his opinion, this will help to avoid typical adaptation errors.
According to data from the tracker on the writer's personal website, work on the script is approximately 42% complete. This is a noticeable progress, considering that at the time of the adaptation announcement in early February, the figure was about 2%.
We remind you that we are talking about a series of adaptations in the "Cosmere" universe. The streaming service Apple TV+ has entered into an agreement with Sanderson, under which he participates in the development of projects as a screenwriter, producer and consultant, and also receives the right to final approval of key creative decisions. Details about the production timeline and cast have not yet been disclosed. It is known that in addition to films based on "Mistborn," a series based on "The Stormlight Archive" is also planned.