In 2018, news broke that hit fantasy series The Wheel Of Time was getting a TV adaptation from Amazon, and since then, it’s been a slow run up until now. Until just recently, the only insights on what the show looks like have been concept art, Instagram Q&As, interviews with cast members. Plus, brief visual teasers of Mat’s dagger, Rand’s sword, Moiraine Sedai (played by Rosamund Pike), and Lan Mandragoran (played by Daniel Henney). And now it’s been announced that the show logo is launching sometime in 2021, giving it a six-month launch window.
More recently reported, Showrunner Rafe Judkins is hosting an online panel at this year’s Comic-Con on July 23rd 11 am PST, likely to showcase the first trailer.
Watch the pattern continue to weave as our Shadowrunner @rafejudkins takes the virtual stage at #ComicConAtHome2021 and shares exclusive details about our upcoming series. pic.twitter.com/4UuThSwYHw
— The Wheel Of Time (@TheWheelOfTime) July 8, 2021
For those not familiar with The Wheel Of Time books, it’s a high fantasy series written by Robert Jordan. Unfortunately, Robert Jordan passed away in 2007 due to a rare blood disease called amyloidosis before finishing the series. Luckily, Brandon Sanderson, an author who was new at the time and is now one of the most successful authors in fantasy, completed the last three main installments of the 14 books with Robert Jordan’s notes.
Rafe Judkins (Marvel’s Agents of Shield) confirmed in an Instagram Q&A that Sanderson and Robert Jordan’s wife have both proofread the scripts and provided feedback.
The Wheel Of Time derives influence from many sources. The concept of time being circular, always destined to repeat, is from Buddhism. In the world of The Wheel Of Time, magic is exclusive to women who are formally known as Aes Sedai. And one of these women named Moiraine Damodred, plays the role of the wise wizard who guides the heroes in their journey. These heroes involuntarily embark on an adventure given a task only they can accomplish, undeniably similar to Lord of the Rings.
The story follows a young man named Rand Al’Thor who must leave everything he knows along with four of his friends from his hometown, as an omnipresent evil is hell-bent on killing Rand and ending the world. Rand doesn’t know why this deity wants to see him dead so badly, and he soon comes to learn he doesn’t know much of anything, specifically about himself. In terms of scope, The Wheel Of Time rivals any in the genre. So much that Rafe Judkins has spoken about the difficult decisions that had to happen in cutting content, mainly various villages in the beginning books.
— The Wheel Of Time (@TheWheelOfTime) December 23, 2020
Outside of the recent run of Marvel TV shows on Disney+, there hasn’t been a new series that culturally grabs fans. So it might be the perfect time for a high-budget, large-scale TV series to debut. But in the meantime, let’s hope we get a trailer sooner rather than later, or at least a glimpse at the central trio of Rand, Mat, and Perrin.
