Sanderson Completes First Draft of Mistborn Film Script

Author Brandon Sanderson has completed the first draft of the screenplay for the upcoming film adaptation of his fantasy novel "Mistborn: The Final Empire," a significant step forward for Apple's planned adaptation of his Cosmere literary universe. Sanderson announced the milestone on social media on July 28, 2026, sharing a photo of the printed script and noting the completion coincided with the 20th anniversary of the book's original publication.

In his announcement, Sanderson emphasized that this is an early step in a long development process, describing the document as a complete rough draft rather than a final shooting script. The author has been providing regular progress updates for months, reporting the script was 91 percent complete earlier in July. He retains substantial creative authority over the project as part of a deal with Apple, serving as writer and producer with approval over major decisions.

The film will adapt the first novel in Sanderson's acclaimed "Mistborn" series, which is set in a world ruled for a millennium by a tyrannical immortal emperor known as the Lord Ruler. The story follows a young street thief named Vin and a revolutionary named Kelsier as...