Mistborn Screenplay vs Riftwake Book 3: Brandon Sanderson’s Latest Update on Both Projects

Brandon Sanderson is making swift and steady progress on the Mistborn screenplay, according to a recent update the acclaimed fantasy author shared on his YouTube channel. Following his appearance at JordanCon in Atlanta, he provided a weekly progress report on his ongoing projects.

Mistborn screenplay is at 66%, so two-thirds mark. We’re moving right along. Book 3 of Riftwake is at 25%. So, Janci made some motion on that. I think she was at 20% last week. So, we’re both moving right along.

Sanderson previously stated that he is devoting much of his attention to drafting the script, which means he has had to temporarily pause some of his other projects. While he is taking a break from writing the Ghostbloods series, the Riftwake books have received an exciting development.

Brandon Sanderson Receives Feedback For Mistborn From Apple TV

At the beginning of April 2026, Sanderson told his fans that he had spoken with the bosses at Apple TV, the studio developing the Mistborn movie. According to the author, he’s confident about the direction of the project (via YouTube):

I’m moving right along on that. Had some good feedback from chatting with the studio and things like that, with Apple about what they’re expecting. They haven’t read it yet, but I’m feeling really good about how this is going.

Sanderson notably secured an exciting deal with Apple TV, which gave him the rare opportunity to retain full creative control over the project. The adaptation has been years in the making, with the author previously pitching it to several major studios and networks. While he received numerous offers, he ultimately chose Apple TV for several reasons.

Book Series:	Mistborn
Genre:	High fantasy
Publication Date:	July 2006 – present
Publishers:	Tor Books (US), Gollancz (UK)
Number of Installments:	8, including one novella

According to Sanderson, his decision was not based solely on the level of creative authority he was granted, but also on the quality of his relationship with the studio. As he explained on his channel:

Basically, everybody tried to bid on Mistborn and Stormlight. I ended up picking Apple. There were a lot of reasons for this. I really liked the vibe with a lot of these meetings. There weren’t any bad meetings in the group. [But] part of it was the amount of control that Apple was willing to offer. But it’s less about control and more about the partnership, and the partnership felt right with Apple.

Many authors and studios have ended up on a disastrous path when their creative visions do not align, which ultimately ruins the project. Sanderson clearly does not want the same fate to befall this work, and so he prioritized finding a partner who not only respects his creative direction but is also willing to collaborate closely throughout the process to ensure a faithful adaptation.

What Is Riftwake Series About? Book Publication Date Revealed

Sanderson may be deep into his work on the Mistborn script, but he still has time to check on his other creative pursuits. As mentioned in his update, the third book in the Riftwake series is making good progress.

If you’re not familiar with the name of the series, it’s because it was formerly referred to as Skyward Legacy and is the sequel series to the Skyward books. Janci Patterson primarily writes the novels, with Sanderson helping with the editing and revision process.

The first title in the three-part series is called Blightfall, which is planned for release in September 2026. The second book is Songrise and is expected to come out in summer 2027. The final book’s release date is yet to be announced.

Blightfall is told through the perspectives of Sadie and Arturo. With Skyward Flight becoming a special forces unit, its main responsibility will be to help the DDF Diplomatic Corps find others in the old Superiority human preserves, but what they might discover there can be a colossal threat to the future of humanity.

Which project of Sanderson are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!