There are science fiction franchises that boast massive scale, while others have deep lore, but only a few can effortlessly balance both, and this is where Brandon Sanderson excels. The famed author managed to create a legacy of crafting intricate systems while delivering satisfying endings with his Cosmere novels.
Hollywood’s biggest sci-fi universes often play with complexity but struggle to sustain it. With Sanderson’s tried-and-tested storytelling, he could give these franchises the cohesion they’ve been missing. That said, we have listed five sci-fi worlds that we think would thrive with him behind the script:
1. Brandon Sanderson Could Lend His Talent to a Dune Side Story
Sanderson is a huge fan of Frank Herbert’s Dune novels, so it’s no surprise he’d be a strong fit to write a screenplay for a potential prequel or side story. The world of Dune is vast and deeply layered; in fact, there is no shortage of material to draw from.
With Sanderson’s knack for balancing exposition, heavy philosophical themes, and high-octane action, he can explore the Butlerian Jihad story that the author’s son, Brian Herbert, co-wrote with Kevin J. Anderson. This sweeping narrative about humanity’s war against thinking machines could translate seamlessly to film with Sanderson’s structured worldbuilding approach, much like how he organized the expansive Cosmere.
2. Horizon Zero Dawn Feels Like a Quintessential Sanderson Epic
Credits: Guerrilla Games
Credits: Guerrilla Games
Credits: Guerrilla Games
At first glance, Horizon Zero Dawn‘s storyline resembles most of Sanderson’s writings, with the original installment set in a post-apocalyptic United States where large robotic machines dominate the Earth, and humans live in a primitive society. The story, indeed, hinges on the central mystery about a lost civilization’s fall, something that Sanderson had already touched upon in Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive.
Having him write a movie script would benefit the franchise from his typical yet effective ending, where every seemingly minor piece of detail would snap together and make sense. More than that, Sanderson’s characters don’t win because they are heroes but because they always figure out a way.
While there’s a live-action adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn currently in development (via The Game Post), there’s still a chance that Sanderson could be brought on board or get him involved in future projects within the franchise.
3. Star Wars’ Old Republic Needs Sanderson’s Taste for Ancient Lore
Credits: BioWare
Credits: BioWare
Credits: BioWare
When we say Sanderson should get his hands on the Star Wars franchise, we don’t mean the Skywalker saga—this would lean more on space fantasy. Instead, he would absolutely crush it with the Old Republic era with his strong penchant for ancient lore and structured Jedi and Sith hierarchies.
Lucasfilm has produced several films exploring the Star Wars franchise, but there is still a whole region of unexplored stories. He could write a script about the early discovery of the Force or the forging of the first lightsabers, treating the Force not just as a vague space-magic concept, but as a discipline with techniques and specific counters.
4. Sanderson Can Save Tron With His Penchant for Science & Logic
The Tron franchise struggled so much because it consistently puts visual spectacle first before plot substance. It looks aesthetic on screen, but the storyline feels like a hollow shell. The gaps in between the releases of the trilogy also didn’t help in building a solid fan base.
Sanderson can help the franchise regain its footing in two ways: first, his knowledge of science fiction and his love for rules would make the Grid feel like a real functioning ecosystem that would work for the screen; and second, his insane productivity will ensure that we get a steady pipeline of consistent installments without long creative gaps.
5. The Matrix Can Find a New Direction Under Sanderson’s Vision
The Matrix is already a successful franchise and has a solid cult following, but the sequels unfortunately got lost in the process, ultimately tarnishing what would have been a stellar legacy. Perhaps, all it needs is a touch of Sanderson’s hard magic.
He can write a new script and turn The Matrix from a confusing dream universe into a structured world with set rules, making the story and action feel more like a puzzle where the heroes win by being smarter, not just by punching harder. The issue with the sequels is that they lacked the same level of depth as the first one, as they relied heavily on action sequences.
Science Fiction FranchiseWhy It Suits Sanderson’s WritingDuneThe author is a huge fan of the Dune novels.Horizon Zero DawnThe story is similar to some of Sanderson’s books.Star WarsHe loves to write ancient lore and hierarchies.TronHis love for science and logic can give the film the depth it needs.The MatrixSanderson can balance a mystery plot with high-octane action.
Here is a quick FAQ guide for you:
Is Brandon Sanderson writing a movie script?
Yes, he is currently writing the script for Apple TV’s Mistborn movie.
What are some of Sanderson’s science fiction novels?
Legion, The Rithmatist, and The Reckoners are some of his most popular sci-fi books.
Which Cosmere book should I read first?
Mistborn: The Final Empire is often suggested as the best entry point for new readers.
What other sci-fi franchises do you think would benefit from Sanderson’s writing? Let us know in the comments!
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