Apple TV Secures Rights to Brandon Sanderson’s ‘Cosmere’ Fantasy Universe

In a landmark agreement for bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, Apple TV has acquired the rights to adapt his expansive fantasy universe known as the Cosmere for film and television. The deal marks one of the most ambitious literary adaptation projects in recent years, bringing together multiple interconnected series under a single streaming platform.

The agreement includes Sanderson’s hugely popular Mistborn novels, which are being developed as feature films, as well as The Stormlight Archive, slated for a long-form television adaptation. Together, the properties form the backbone of the Cosmere — a richly detailed shared universe that spans several worlds, magic systems and character arcs.

Industry insiders describe the partnership as unprecedented in scope for a fantasy author, giving Sanderson an unusually high level of creative involvement and oversight. Apple TV reportedly plans to build a franchise comparable in scale to major cinematic universes, with multiple projects in development designed to appeal to both longtime fans and new audiences.

Sanderson, known for his meticulous world-building and massive global readership, has emphasized the importance of maintaining narrative integrity across adaptations. He will serve as an executive producer, helping guide storylines, casting decisions and overall creative direction.

For Apple TV, the Cosmere represents a strategic investment in premium genre storytelling as the streaming platform continues to expand its original content lineup. The company aims to leverage Sanderson’s devoted fan base while establishing a new flagship fantasy franchise.

Production timelines have not yet been publicly announced, but early development is already underway. If successful, the Cosmere adaptations could introduce millions of viewers to Sanderson’s interconnected worlds, opening the door to a multi-year slate of films and series.