Harry Potter may be itching for a comeback, as far as HBO is concerned, but it isn’t the only fantasy game in town. In fact, one of the biggest upcoming adaptations is highly anticipated, and unlike J.K. Rowling’s tarnished franchise, it hasn’t been translated to screen before. This is, of course, regarding Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, a collection of fantasy books that are about to get the feature film treatment.
A Mistborn adaptation has been in the works for some time now, but the Apple TV magic series could yield the best new fantasy feature film of the decade. The steamer has been on the hunt for its version of The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, and they may have found it. Sanderson’s work has all the hallmarks familiar to fantasy fans, but a gripping new world that is refreshing and captivating.
Mistborn Isn’t As Safe as a Well-Trodden IP Like Harry Potter
One of the big things that Mistborn has going for it is a lack of exposure. Prime Video has Rings of Power, while HBO has a television reboot of Harry Potter that is almost too dark. These franchises have been overextended to the point of fatigue. Apple TV tends to have its finger on the pulse of what is new and fresh, and Mistborn has that in spades. Instead of recycling similar storylines, the streamer can offer something new.
For the first time in a decade, fantasy can bring a fresh magical series. Sanderson sets his world apart from anything else of its kind, starting with the complex magic system that drives the narrative forward. Mistborn is set in the mystical land of Scadrial, known as The Final Empire. This world operates under the tyrannical rule of an immortal Lord Ruler, who has turned the land desolate and colorless, while the lower classes work under indentured servitude.
This is a world primed for some sort of Chosen One narrative, as in Harry Potter, but it doesn’t go as fantasy fans would expect. Mistborn has the best version of these magic tropes because these heroes live in a world with a logical magic system. As soon as anyone starts poking holes, some of Harry Potter’s weirdest details, like the wizard currency, start to fall apart. This isn’t so for Mistborn.
The magical system of the world is incredibly specific, starting with the art of Allomancy. In the world of Mistborn, some people can consume different metals, which gives them certain abilities. People are born with Allomancy; some can only burn one type of metal to achieve abilities. There is a rare subset of people called Mistborns, who have access to all of these powers.
Allomancy started with the noble houses, and many believe that it is where it should stay. However, interbreeding and often assault trickled down to the skaa, and many Mistborns were born from these unions. Sanderson’s world isn’t a lazy system where magic just happens. Allomancy is based on physics, where every action has a reaction. There is no spellcasting, only specific powers that occur during adolescence, similar to X-Men. This is the foundation for Mistborn, which is only the start of a fascinating world.
Mistborn Subverts Some of the Best Fantasy Tropes
Mistborn stands out as one of the best fantasy stories of the past decade because it refuses to paint by the numbers. Many fantasy stories of the past few years have tried to replicate what was once an original idea. Rings of Power and House of the Dragon are trying to repeat The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones model to varying success.
The IP does a lot of heavy lifting for both of these shows, but they aren’t really presenting anything new. Mistborn should inspire some real excitement for the first time in a long time. This isn’t a spin-off of a tired franchise but an anticipated event to herald a new era of fantasy. Sanderson’s world isn’t just something that hasn’t been adapted before, but is full of complex and engaging characters that fans can get obsessed with.
Mistborn also subverts what fans may be expecting from a fantasy series. It is, in a way, a classic telling of the hero’s journey, but it twists general tropes of the genre. The Hero of Ages is a mythical figure in the lore of the books, but that title comes with many surprises.
The books also set up a decaying world needing new leadership, as in The Lord of the Rings, but this foundation is ultimately a red herring. Unlike taking down Sauron, the tyrannical leader of Scadriel is confronted in the first book, and the following two spin off into another, unexpected direction. Viewers can engage with this sleight of hand through the strength of its characters.
The Best Part of Mistborn Is the Characters
The best part about Mistborn is how the characters feel authentic to the story, but also steers them away from clichés associated with fantasy. The first book, The Final Empire, is closer to a great heist movie than anything else, starting with collecting a ragtag group to pull off a plan so crazy it might just work. There are many points of view characters, such as Kelsier, the emotionally traumatized Mistborn, who can only find redemption in taking down the Empire.
The prime character, however, is Vin, the direct opposite of what the noble houses envision a Mistborn to be. Vin is a teenage skaa who lives on the streets, surviving as a criminal. Unbeknownst to her, she is a Mistborn and eventually recruited by Kelsier to pull off his magnificent plan. Vin is the classic reluctant underdog hero, but becomes the star of the show.
Fantasy doesn’t often pose female characters front and center in just a way, but this plot would never come to fruition without Vin. She doesn’t fall into the typical love interest trap, nor is she “not like the other girls.” There are many like Vin; she just happens to be there at the right place at the right time. Through her intelligence and fortitude, she forges her own path, and when she does find a love interest, he, too, refuses to adhere to gender norms.
Elend Venture is the passive character who typically goes to women in fantasy series. Philosophical and idealistic, Elend isn’t the brawler. Vin is. He is only clued into what is going on at the last possible moment, and though he helps, the story really belongs to Vin.
In a world where romantasy is throttling the industry, a story that isn’t formulaic or predictable is necessary. For all these reasons, Mistborn has the potential to be the best fantasy event that fans can really be excited about. The only rub is that fans will have to wait for Sanderson to finish the screenplay before delving into a movie adaptation of one of the best fantasy stories in recent memory.
- Producers
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Brandon Sanderson
- Franchise(s)
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Mistborn
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