We haven’t seen a good fantasy series since Game of Thrones, says author Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson’s thoughts on the current state of epic fantasy adaptations

Credits: Michael Friberg

Brandon Sanderson has openly shared his frustrations with how epic fantasy is being adapted for television. He mentioned that while streaming services are rushing to option big fantasy titles, they haven’t yet produced a show with the same level of success as Game of Thrones. Sanderson’s own works have been sought after, but he remains cautious. Sanderson said:

“Streaming has had a big problem with epic fantasy, and this has me worried. Rings of Power and Wheel of Time have not gone as well as I would’ve hoped. Shadow and Bone lasted only two seasons, after a very strong first season. Streaming hasn’t figured out epic fantasy yet.”

“Maybe this is a holdover from network television days, where they’re trying to make the episodes fit into the structure of how episodic television used to work, rather than filming an eight-hour movie and showing it in chunks. But maybe that’s a bad idea. All I know is, right now we haven’t seen really great epic fantasy film television since the early, mid seasons of Game of Thrones. Fifty million dollars per episode has not done it, so it’s not a matter of the money they’re throwing at it.”

For Sanderson, the heart of the issue lies in how studios approach adapting these works. They struggle to find the right balance between staying true to the books and creating a compelling on-screen experience.

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Brandon Sanderson’s concerns with adapting his work

Brandon Sanderson has voiced concerns about adapting his own works for film and television, citing that many adaptations fail to honor the source material. He has rejected several offers to bring his Cosmere universe to the screen, largely due to his belief that studios and streamers aren’t fully prepared to do his stories justice.

In particular, Sanderson emphasized that the current landscape of epic fantasy adaptations is problematic, citing examples like The Witcher. He believes that The Witcher failed to fully capture its source material, especially after Henry Cavill, a major fan of the books, was replaced as Geralt. Sanderson pointed out that the show’s creative team didn’t listen to Cavill, a decision he views as a mistake, which ultimately hurt the show’s potential. Sanderson said:

“I mean, I really think the key member is that visionary filmmaker. Epic fantasy has responded poorly to too much oversight from above. I think that was The Witcher’s problem. You had that visionary: It was Henry Cavill. And they didn’t want to listen to him. So, well, there you go.”

Ultimately, Sanderson remains cautious about adapting his books for television or film, preferring to wait until the industry is ready to tackle epic fantasy with the care and attention it deserves. He’s also hopeful that the success of certain projects, like How to Train Your Dragon’s live-action adaptation, might signal a renaissance in the genre, helping to pave the way for a more successful era of epic fantasy adaptations.

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