The release plan for Mistborn Era 3 might be frustrating for fans awaiting the next book, but it could benefit the movie adaptations. Brandon Sanderson’s books are inherently cinematic, making them prime material for the big screen. While there’s no guarantee that the entire saga will be adapted, a Mistborn movie is supposedly in development, despite a pause in development announced by Sanderson in his 2023 State of the Sanderson blog post.
If the adaptation becomes a reality, its success could spawn sequels and adaptations of Era 2 and Era 3. Although Era 3 books haven’t been written or published yet, Sanderson plans to publish them after they’re all written, meaning the next Mistborn book won’t arrive until at least 2028.
The release plan for Era 3 means readers are in for a long wait, but it also prevents the movies from getting ahead of the source material, a common issue in fantasy adaptations. Sanderson is planning to tackle all three Era 3 books over the course of about three years, ensuring they’ll likely come out in quick succession. This means the movies won’t have to catch up to the source material, as they’ll have plenty of books to work with.
The delays plaguing the initial film have made it unlikely that its sequels will ever pass Sanderson’s source material, and even if filming begins tomorrow, it would take a long time to get through the original trilogy and Era 2 books. This means potential Era 3 adaptations are unlikely to occur for at least a decade, giving Sanderson ample time to work on the next series. Despite the waits, this plan could ensure harmony between the books and movies.