One of theMistbornmovie’s challenges will be the portrayal and exposition surrounding its main villain, and the format of this superhero movie from 2005 could be the answer. Whileprogress on aMistbornmoviehas been halted since the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Brandon Sanderson has stated that it’s only a matter of time before his stories are adapted to the screen, and his heart seems set on bringingMistbornto life as a feature film. As it’s his most widely-read work, it’s worth discussing what it might look like, even without official plans in place.
On the one hand,Mistborn’smagic systemand unique form of combat make it the ideal movie. Many of the novel’s scenes are wonderfully cinematic and easy to imagine, plus Sanderson created the story with the format of team heist movies in mind. On the other, fantasy adaptations often struggle in Hollywood, with exposition and material not translating well to the big screen. Many ofMistborn’spivotal scenes revolve around characters reading material from a translated text, detailing information about The Lord Ruler,The Final Empire’smain villain.
The Mistborn Movie Should Be Built Around The Lord Ruler Plot Twist
Audiences Should Be Surprised To Find Out Rashek Is The Lord Ruler
Before getting into the nature of this reveal, it’s important to note why The Lord Ruler is so crucial toThe Final Empire. After nearly two decades, he’s still one of the most alluring villains in the entirety ofBrandon Sanderson’s Cosmere book universe, and he’s only really in the book for a few scenes before dying. The reason he works so well on minimal time is because of the way other characters treat him. From Kelsier’s hatred to Sazed’s scholarly pursuit,readers view The Lord Ruler to be this larger-than-life presence looming over the sinister city of Luthadel.
ThroughoutThe Final Empire, the reader learns more and more about this expedition over 1,000 years before the events of the novel, which sees men named Alendi and Rashek traveling to the Well of Ascension. to portray this in a film,it would likely require flashback scenes that demonstrate this journey, showing the viewer how The Lord Ruler came to be, preparing them for the eventual plot twist that Rashek is The Lord Ruler rather than Alendi. This reveal later provides Vin with the insight to defeat The Lord Ruler by using his Feruchemy against him.
9 Mistborn Storylines The Movies Can’t Afford To Cut From The Books
A Mistborn movie may need to reduce some subplots, but these story elements and character arcs are too important to be removed altogether.
How Batman Begins Hiding Its True Villain Can Work For Mistborn
Batman Begins Plays Its Flashbacks Against Audience Expectation, Delivering A Worthwhile Twist
When Neeson’s character finally arrives in the present timeline, he reveals that he’s actually R’as and that he’s the main villain of the movie.
Batman Beginsmight be a strange piece of media to compare toMistborn, but there’s a trick with the film’s flashbacks that allow its villain plot twist to work.Audiences are introduced to Liam Neeson’s character, Ducard, early in the movie. He’s the one who trains Bruce to become Batman through flashbacks, under the suspicion that Ken Watanabe’s character is his leader, R’as al Ghul. When Neeson’s character finally arrives in the present timeline, he reveals that he’s actually R’as and that he’s the main villain of the movie.
Prior toBatman Begins’release, sources thought Liam Neeson was simply playing the character Ducard. The casting choice adds weight to the plot twist; somethingMistborncould attempt to emulate.
Now, applying a similar premise toMistborn, it would be fantastic to include Alendi and Rashek’s story in flashbacks, gearing movie audiences to think Alendi would be the man to become The Lord Ruler. Then, in the execution scene where The Lord Ruler steps out of his carriage, the film can reveal by appearance that he’s actually Rashek. This may not mean anything to the protagonists just yet, butthe audience will have to compartmentalize The Lord Ruler, a character they’ve grown to hate, with Rashek, a character who they’ve maybe expressed some sympathy forin the flashback scenes.
The Lord Ruler Plot Twist Is The Main Idea Of The Final Empire
Mistborn Exists In The Lord Ruler’s World
On his website, Brandon Sanderson explains the essence ofMistbornin two main ideas. The first is that he wanted to tell anOcean’s Eleven-like heist story in a fantasy world. The second is thathe wanted to create a fantasy story in a world where the Dark Lord had already taken control. Luthadel exists in the bleak environment that The Lord Ruler created, and understanding him and his history is crucial to Sanderson’s narrative. Read the full quote below:
“I wanted to take the standard fantasy story I’d read a dozen times, that of a young peasant hero who went on a quest to defeat a Dark Lord, and turn it on its head. What if the Dark Lord won? What if, in the final climactic moments, he killed the hero and took over the world?”
The Final Empireexists in a world built on this hypothesis. It’s a purposeful subversion of fantasy norms and the expectations surrounding Dark Lord-like characters such as Voldemort or Sauron. As the reader embarks on their journey throughMistbornin text or on screen,a crucial aspect should be the unveiling of this evil, constantly prompting the viewer to question what they know about The Lord Ruler.Batman Begins’formula allows for a fantastic execution of this premise that can keep audiences enthralled in the mystery.
Mistborn
TheMistbornseries, created by Brandon Sanderson, is a high-fantasy saga set in the world of Scadrial, where magic is powered by metals through a system called Allomancy. The series focuses on political intrigue, heists, and the battle between good and evil. The first trilogy,Mistborn: The Final Empire, follows the struggle to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the Lord Ruler. Later books in the series, includingEra 2, take place hundreds of years after the events of the original trilogy, expanding the story into new settings with new characters, all while maintaining connections to the original storyline.Books:Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (2007)Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (2008)Mistborn: The Alloy of Law (2011)Mistborn: Shadows of Self (2015)Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning (2016)Mistborn: The Lost Metal (2022)
