Brandon Sanderson has confirmed that Apple is now the new home for screen adaptations of the Cosmere, his shared fantasy universe that spans multiple series and standalone novels.
In a Reddit statement posted after the news broke, Sanderson said the decision came after a fresh round of Hollywood meetings in 2025, his first time shopping the rights at that level “since… 2016.”
What makes this move notable is what Sanderson says he negotiated in return.
What was sold, exactly
Apple has acquired the screen adaptation rights to Sanderson’s Cosmere universe, meaning the rights to develop film and television projects based on the Cosmere books. Reporting describes Apple as holding rights across the universe, not just one series, with early priorities focused on Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive.
Apple is eyeing a Mistborn feature adaptation and a Stormlight Archive series adaptation, both currently in early development, with Blue Marble Pictures attached to produce.
This is not trivial for Comer fans, as it looks like an attempt to build a multi-project screen universe from the full Cosmere toolkit.
Sanderson says it came down to two factors
In his statement, Sanderson frames the Apple decision as a practical choice rather than a hype one. He points to two decisive factors.
Approvals and control
Sanderson says Apple “wants to be a true partner” and that they “really get what I want to do,” emphasizing the level of approvals and creative control he would retain.
That language suggests a structure where the author is a creative stakeholder, which is reassuring. Multiple outlets have also described the deal as unusually author-friendly, with Sanderson expected to write, produce, consult, and retain approval rights in a way that is rare at this scale.
Apple’s quality track record
Sanderson’s second reason is Apple’s reputation for doing fewer projects with a higher baseline of quality. He describes Apple’s output as “creator driven” and says he finds “virtually everything” he watches from them to be excellent.
For a universe as continuity-heavy as the Cosmere, Sanderson is betting on a partner that will move slower, pick fewer bets, and protect the long-term plan.
The adaptation roadmap: theatrical Mistborn first, then Stormlight
Sanderson also provided a clear next step: he will be writing the Mistborn screenplay himself over the next five months as his full-time work, with a goal of a theatrical Mistborn first and a Stormlight series after.
That sequencing is important. Mistborn is comparatively leaner and more film-shaped than Stormlight, which is sprawling, character-dense, and structurally closer to prestige television. Apple’s reported development priorities align with that logic.
Why this deal happened now
Sanderson notes he had been “off the market for many years,” working with Epic, and only recently returned to Hollywood to look for a new partner.
He also references 2016 as the last time he was in Hollywood with his Cosmere rights, which tracks with earlier reporting from that year that DMG Entertainment had secured film and licensing rights to the Cosmere.
This is not a sudden shift. It is the latest chapter in a long rights story, with Sanderson now claiming a stronger author-led position than is typical in franchise adaptation deals.
What readers should take away
This does not sound like “Cosmere gets adapted.” The real story is strategy driven.
Sanderson is prioritizing two things that are often traded away when books go to screen being control and consistency, two factors that the fans are anxious to see preserved. Apple, for its part, is signaling a willingness to bet on a long-term fantasy engine that could span films and series if the first projects land.
If Sanderson’s plan holds, Mistborn is the spearhead, and Stormlight is the long game.
He has also said he will discuss more details in a livestream, but the core reasoning is already on the record. Partner alignment, approvals, and a track record he trusts.