Summary
- Kelsier’s casting is crucial for a successful Mistborn movie adaptation.
- Kelsier serves as a guide for audiences, making the film accessible to newcomers.
- Kelsier’s death is pivotal; Vin’s character development carries the emotional weight.
One character’s casting is vital to the success of a Mistborn movie adaptation, and it should be one of the film’s main focuses in development. Brandon Sanderson’s beloved Mistborn series film adaptation has been in and out of early production for years, nearly reaching the mark in 2023 before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes halted progress. While Sanderson has stated that this iteration of the project has been canned, he also encouraged audiences, saying that it would only be a matter of time before his stories were brought to life on screen.
The Mistborn fantasy series is known as one of the pillars of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere book universe. Given that it’s also his most widely read work, it’s no surprise that Hollywood has taken an interest in bringing it to life. The world of Mistborn is highly cinematic, with engaging action, strong characters, and a unique fantasy aesthetic, all while maintaining ease of accessibility. Until there’s more concrete news about film production, Sanderson’s novels offer plenty of material to hypothesize on what the ideal Mistborn movie would look like.
Kelsier Needs To Be Played By A Charismatic Star
Kelsier Starts Off The Series As An Experienced Mistborn, Making Him The Perfect Audience Draw
When considering the production for something like Mistborn, it is important to consider how the film can be marketed to non-readers. Of course, the film should be adapted with respect to the material and for long-time fans, but for it to be commercially successful and kick off a series, it needs to be welcoming to new audiences as well. Kelsier is the perfect vessel to welcome said audiences. Vin is the main hero of the original Mistborn trilogy, but it’s important to note that Kelsier is essentially the viewer’s guide to understanding the world while Vin comes of age.
It’s the perfect way to demonstrate the excitement of the world, only for audiences to watch the movie and discover Vin as the true emotional core that brings them back for more.
In terms of casting, it would be appropriate for Vin to be played by a relatively unknown young actress, but it seems important for Kelsier to be played by a charismatic and rather familiar face. Kelsier could be one of the main lures for the movie’s marketing, as trailers could highlight him putting together a team to defeat the Lord Ruler and also showing off some neat Mistborn magic moves. It’s the perfect way to demonstrate the excitement of the world, only for audiences to watch the movie and discover Vin as the true emotional core that brings them back for more.
Kelsier Introduces Audiences To Mistborn & Its Magic System
Kelsier Shows Audiences The World While Vin Comes Out Of Her Shell
Kelsier essentially serves a similar purpose in The Final Empire. He’s introduced as the main POV character, and while he’s not quite the standard, heroic male fantasy archetype, he has some similar qualities. He’s a charismatic leader, a powerful warrior, and everyone seems to love him. Kelsier is someone that audiences feel like they can follow, and it allows them to resonate more with Vin as they embark on her journey. The audience is there with her, learning about the world, the characters, and the conflict.
Kelsier literally introduces audiences to the Mistborn magic system, utilizing it himself early in the novel and then demonstrating it to Vin shortly thereafter. Sanderson is known for his phenomenal magic systems, but explaining such a complicated system is a challenge that requires a solid halt in the momentum for exposition. When handled right, however, such a scene can become as unforgettable as, say, Yoda training Luke in the Force in The Empire Strikes Back. Kelsier needs to be engaging for that scene to work, and if it does work, it can be truly magical.
Why Kelsier’s Death Is Pivotal For The Mistborn Movie
Audiences Need To Care About Kelsier’s Death
Introducing Kelsier as a lovable protagonist in the first Mistborn movie comes with the chance of a pitfall, as he dies at the end of the first book. So, there’s a difficult balance to strike, as audiences need to have a strong enough emotional bond with Kelsier to be affected by his death, but they need to be willing to move on without him. And that’s where Vin comes in. All along, while the viewer should be lured in by Kelsier, Vin is the one who should truly be raising curiosities.
Vin hears voices; Vin has special Mistborn powers; Vin has an engaging love subplot. Then, at the end of the film, Kelsier dies. Vin receives the letter from him that brings the viewer to tears, and then she goes out and finishes his mission. Suddenly, she’s an action hero like Sarah Connor or Ellen Ripley, as the one who survived the film and won the day. There’s so much potential for Mistborn to have an iconic movie adaptation, but nailing the casting to make all of its character elements work is vital to the story.