Fresh off a landmark deal with Apple TV, Brandon Sanderson is already diving into another screen adaptation—this time with some familiar faces from the Marvel universe. The beloved fantasy and sci-fi author is teaming up with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, the powerhouse duo behind Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., to bring his novel Skyward to television.
Tomorrow Studios, the production company behind Netflix's hit One Piece, is developing the series based on the first book in Sanderson's Cytoverse franchise. Sanderson, who has been working on the project for nearly a decade, called it "a dream come true." He will co-write the pilot script alongside Whedon and Tancharoen, and all three will executive produce alongside Tomorrow Studios' CEO Marty Adelstein and President Becky Clements.
For those unfamiliar with the source material, Skyward follows Spensa Nightshade, a young pilot on a harsh planet where humanity is under constant siege by mysterious alien forces. Determined to join the fighter corps and redeem her disgraced father's legacy, Spensa's journey blends high-stakes aerial combat with themes of courage, identity, and discovery. The series promises to explore both the secrets of the galaxy and Spensa's evolution from an outsider to a key figure in humanity's fight for survival.
Whedon and Tancharoen are no strangers to genre storytelling. Their work on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. earned them a loyal fanbase, and they've since been involved in various Marvel projects. This collaboration with Sanderson marks a return to sci-fi television for the duo, who are known for blending character-driven drama with epic action.
Tomorrow Studios has been on a roll lately. In addition to One Piece, which is heading into its third season, the studio recently produced The Better Sister for Prime Video and Physical for Apple TV. Adelstein and Clements are also executive producing Shifting Gears for ABC and the upcoming Prison Break reboot for Hulu.
Sanderson's involvement in the adaptation is significant. The author, who recently signed an unprecedented deal with Apple TV for his Cosmere universe, is known for retaining extensive creative control over his projects. That deal, which includes adaptations of Mistborn for film and The Stormlight Archive for television, positions Sanderson as a key architect of his own cinematic universe—a level of influence rarely seen in the industry.
For fans of Sanderson's work, this is just the beginning. The Skyward series is a perfect entry point for newcomers, combining accessible sci-fi with the author's signature world-building. And with Whedon and Tancharoen at the helm, the adaptation is in capable hands.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project. In the meantime, check out our list of the 2010s' true sci-fi masterpieces and explore forgotten fantasy gems that deserve a second look.
