Brandon Sanderson, the bestselling author renowned for completing Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and building the sprawling Cosmere universe, has finally broken his silence on a long-dormant sequel. Fans of his 2013 novel The Rithmatist have been waiting over a decade for a follow-up, and Sanderson recently offered a glimmer of hope.
In a conversation with Peter Orullian about their co-written book The Songs of the Dead, Sanderson addressed the status of The Aztlanian, the planned sequel to The Rithmatist. He admitted that crafting a worthy successor is proving "difficult," but he gave his word that it will eventually see the light of day. "It's going to happen. When will it happen? I don't know, but it is going to happen," Sanderson stated.
The Rithmatist follows teenager Joel Saxon, a student at Armedius Academy who dreams of mastering Rithmatic power—a magical system based on chalk drawings. When students begin disappearing, Joel teams up with a professor to solve the mystery. The novel was well-received, and a sequel was announced shortly after its release, but progress stalled as Sanderson's career exploded.
Sanderson explained that he has been methodically clearing his backlog of unfinished series, including Legion and Alcatraz. He noted that The Rithmatist is "stronger than either of those" and acknowledged it should have been a priority. "I will get to it. I promise at some point, you have my word, that I will write a Rithmatist sequel, but I have no idea when," he assured fans.
Meanwhile, Sanderson is deeply immersed in adapting his Cosmere works for Apple TV. The deal, signed earlier this year, gives him significant creative control over projects based on Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive. As of June, the Mistborn script is approximately 85% complete, with plans for a feature film. The Stormlight Archive, given its epic scope, is being developed as a high-budget television series, with Sanderson serving as the primary writer. He recently revealed that the first season will consist of 10 episodes.
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While no release date has been set for The Aztlanian or any of the Apple TV projects, Sanderson's update is a welcome reassurance for fans who have waited patiently. As he continues to juggle multiple high-profile commitments, the promise of a Rithmatist sequel remains a bright spot on the horizon.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on Brandon Sanderson's ever-expanding universe.
