The Wheel of Time (TV series)
The Wheel of Time is an upcoming American epic fantasy web television series set to premiere on Prime Video. The series is based on Robert Jordan's novel series of the same name, and is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios, with Rafe Judkins serving as showrunner.
The Wheel of Time | |
---|---|
Genre | Fantasy |
Based on | The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan |
Developed by | Rafe Judkins |
Starring |
|
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production companies | |
Release | |
Original network | Prime Video |
Premise
The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine Damodred, a member of the powerful, all-woman organization of channelers (magic users) called the Aes Sedai, who takes a group of five young people from their home village following an attack by the forces of the Dark One, an evil entity who seeks to destroy the Pattern (Existence). Among these five, she believes one might be the reincarnation of the Dragon, an ancient hero and powerful channeler who is prophesied either to save the world or destroy it.[1]
Cast
- Rosamund Pike as Moiraine[2]
- Josha Stradowski as Rand al'Thor[3]
- Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara[3]
- Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al'Meara[3]
- Barney Harris as Mat Cauthon[3]
- Madeleine Madden as Egwene al'Vere[3]
- Daniel Henney as al'Lan Mandragoran[4]
- Michael McElhatton as Tam al'Thor[5]
- Álvaro Morte as Logain Ablar[6]
- Hammed Animashaun as Loial,[6] an Ogier
- Alexandre Willaume as Thom Merrilin,[6] a gleeman
- Johann Myers as Padan Fain,[6] a traveling merchant
- Jennifer Cheon Garcia as Leane Sharif,[7] an Aes Sedai
- Maria Doyle Kennedy as Illa,[7][8] a Tinker
- Daryl McCormack as Aram,[7][8] a Tinker
- Narinder Samra as Raen,[8] a Tinker
- Priyanka Bose as Alanna Mosvani,[9] an Aes Sedai
- Emmanuel Imani as Ihvon, Alanna's Warder[9]
- Taylor Napier as Maksim, Alanna's Warder[9]
- Kate Fleetwood as Liandrin Guirale,[7] an Aes Sedai
- Christopher Sciueref as Abell Cauthon[10]
- Juliet Howland as Natti Cauthon[10]
- Mandi Symonds as Daise Congar[10]
- Lolita Chakrabarti as Marin al'Vere[10]
- Michael Tuahine as Bran al'Vere[10]
- David Sterne as Cenn Buie[10]
- Abdul Salis as Eamon Valda,[11] a Whitecloak
- Stuart Graham as Geofram Bornhald,[11] a Whitecloak
- Kae Alexander as Min Farshaw[12]
- Sophie Okonedo as Siuan Sanche,[12] an Aes Sedai
- Clare Perkins as Kerene Nagashi,[12] an Aes Sedai
- Peter Franzén as Stepin,[12] a Warder
- Pasha Bocarie as Master Grinwell[11]
- Jennifer K Preston as Mistress Grinwell[11]
- Darren Clarke as Basel Gill[11]
Episodes
No. | Title [13] | Directed by | Teleplay by [13] | Original release date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Leavetaking" | Uta Briesewitz[14] | Rafe Judkins | TBA |
2 | "Shadow's Waiting" | Uta Briesewitz[14] | Amanda Shuman | TBA |
3 | "A Place of Safety" | TBA | The Clarkson Twins | TBA |
4 | "The Dragon Reborn" | TBA | Dave Hill | TBA |
5 | "Blood Calls Blood" | TBA | Celine Song | TBA |
6 | "The Flame of Tar Valon" | TBA | Justine Juel Gillmer | TBA |
Production
Background
In 2000, NBC optioned the screen rights to Robert Jordan's fantasy novel series The Wheel of Time but did not ultimately proceed with the production.[1] In 2004, Jordan sold the film, television, video game, and comic rights to the series to production company Red Eagle Entertainment.[1] In 2015, Red Eagle Entertainment paid air time to cable network FXX to air Winter Dragon, a 22-minute pilot for a potential The Wheel of Time series starring Billy Zane and Max Ryan that allowed Red Eagle to hold on to the rights to the project.[15] Subsequently, the company sued Jordan's widow, Harriet McDougal, for her comments about the pilot[16] and the lawsuit was resolved in 2016.[17]
Development
On April 20, 2017, it was announced that Sony Pictures Television was producing a new adaptation of the book series in association with Red Eagle Entertainment and Radar Pictures. Rafe Judkins was expected to serve as showrunner for the series and executive produce alongside Rick Selvage, Larry Mondragon, Ted Field, Mike Weber, and Darren Lemke. Robert Jordan's widow Harriet McDougal was set to serve as a consulting producer.[18]
On October 2, 2018, it was announced that Amazon had given the production a series order. Additionally, it was further announced that Amazon Studios would serve as a production company for the series.[1][19][20] On February 19, 2019, Uta Briesewitz was confirmed as director for the first two episodes.[14]
Casting
It was announced in June 2019 that Rosamund Pike had been cast as the lead in the series as Moiraine Damodred.[2] Further main cast members were announced in August 2019: Daniel Henney as Lan Mandragoran, Josha Stradowski as Rand al'Thor, Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara, Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al'Meara, Barney Harris as Mat Cauthon, and Madeleine Madden as Egwene al'Vere.[3]
Filming
Principal photography for the first season started on September 16, 2019.[21] In March 2020, shoots in Prague were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]
References
- White, Peter (October 2, 2018). "Amazon Orders Adaptation Of Fantasy Drama The Wheel of Time To Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- Petski, Denise (June 19, 2019). "Rosamund Pike To Star In The Wheel Of Time TV Adaptation At Amazon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- Otterson, Joe (August 14, 2019). "'Wheel of Time' Series at Amazon Rounds Out Main Cast". Variety. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- Purslow, Matt (September 4, 2019). "al'Lan Mandragoran Cast for The Wheel of Time". IGN. Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- Smith, Andrew (November 6, 2019). "Game of Thrones Actor Joins Wheel of Time as Rand's Father Tam". IGN. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- Pedersen, Erik (December 4, 2019). "The Wheel Of Time: Amazon Fantasy Drama Adds Four To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- Denzel, Jason (January 22, 2020). "Liandrin and Three Other Cast Members Announce Themselves". Dragonmount. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- Flook, Ray (July 22, 2020). "The Wheel of Time: Amazon Series Adaptation Adds 3 More To Cast". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- "Casting Announcement for Six Emond's Field characters". Dragonmount. December 24, 2019. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- Denzel, Jason (June 25, 2020). "Casting Announcement for Six Emond's Field characters". Dragonmount. Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- Asher-Perrin, Emmet (July 1, 2020). "Wheel of Time has cast two Whitecloak Leaders". Tor. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- Sedai, Mashiara (August 20, 2020). "Casting Announcement: Min and Siuan". Dragonmount. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- "The Wheel of Time". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (February 19, 2019). "The Wheel of Time: Uta Briesewitz To Direct First Two Episodes Of Amazon Fantasy Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- Gartenberg, Chaim (February 9, 2015). "A Wheel of Time pilot was produced and aired when no one was looking". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- Gardner, Eriq (February 13, 2015). "FXX Pilot Airing at 1:30 a.m. Leads to Eye-Opening Slander Lawsuit". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- Trendacosta, Katharine (April 28, 2016). "The Wheel of Time Is Going to Be a TV Series After All". io9. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- Otterson, Joe (April 20, 2017). "Wheel of Time TV Series Lands at Sony". Variety. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- Ritman, Alex (October 2, 2018). "Wheel of Time Fantasy Drama Nabs Amazon Series Order". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- Keslassy, Elsa (October 2, 2018). "Amazon Orders Female-Driven Fantasy Series The Wheel of Time". Variety. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- @WoTonPrime (September 16, 2019). "Hey everyone, today is our first day of principal photography" (Tweet). Retrieved September 18, 2019 – via Twitter.
- Vourlias, Christopher (March 13, 2020). "Sony's Nightingale, Wheel of Time Shoots Suspended in Europe Over Coronavirus Fears (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.