Brandon Sanderson Slams ‘Rings of Power’ and ‘The Witcher’ Adaptations

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Renowned fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson, known for his captivating works like the “Mistborn” series and “The Stormlight Archive”, has criticized recent adaptations, particularly Amazon’s, while voicing concerns about Netflix not heeding advice on the direction of certain projects. The prolific author, who has also delved into superhero stories and completed the last three books in “The Wheel of Time” series, expressed dissatisfaction with how epic fantasy stories are being handled, explaining why none of his beloved works have been adapted yet.

In conversation with Polygon, Sanderson expressed concerns about streaming as a primary factor hindering his work. He mentioned that “The Rings of Power” series hasn’t performed as favorably as he had anticipated, and further elaborated on this point.

The realm of streaming seems to be grappling with the intricate world of epic fantasy, which has become a source of concern for many viewers. Shows like The Rings of Power, Wheel of Time, and Shadow and Bone haven’t met expectations as I had anticipated. Unfortunately, Shadow and Bone was canceled after just two seasons, despite a promising start. It appears that streaming services are still trying to crack the code on how to effectively adapt epic fantasy stories for modern audiences.

It’s possible that modern TV series are still adhering to the structure of old episodic television, rather than creating a long-form series like a movie. However, this approach might not be effective. In recent times, truly captivating epic fantasy TV shows since the initial seasons of Game of Thrones have been scarce. Spending $50 million per episode hasn’t led to success, suggesting it’s not just about the budget. Additionally, I haven’t seen any of these series gaining widespread public appeal as much as I would hope.

Netflix Should Have Listened To “Visionary” Henry Cavill About the Direction of ‘The Witcher’

Sanderson continued by extolling the virtues of the Netflix animated show “Arcane”, before disclosing that he’s currently developing an animated adaptation of “Tress of the Emerald Sea”. He also suggested that “Mistborn” might translate well into a movie series, but expressed some reservations about adapting “Stormlight”. These reservations stem from his observations of shows like “Rings of Power” and “The Witcher”, which he feels have faced challenges. His primary concern with the latter was Netflix not heeding the creative vision of Henry Cavill, who is considered a visionary in the industry.

I’d definitely choose Stormlight for adaptation on a streaming platform, given an unrestricted budget and creative freedom. I believe I could create something exceptional under these conditions, but quality isn’t always guaranteed – witness The Rings of Power, which had similar resources and control. It’s okay, but does it live up to expectations? I think the crucial factor is a visionary director. Epic fantasies often struggle with excessive input from above. I suspect that was the issue with The Witcher; while Henry Cavill served as a visionary, they didn’t seem to value his insights. So, in summary…

It’s understandable that supporters of “Rings of Power” and “The Wheel of Time” adaptations, which have expanded to multiple seasons, might challenge Sanderson’s views on fantasy TV shows. However, given the numerous reports suggesting ongoing conflicts between Cavill and the creators behind “The Witcher,” and the possibility that these disputes led to Cavill leaving the show, it’s intriguing to consider Sanderson’s perspective and hints that this might be accurate.

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2025-01-24 17:01