Amazon Studios has confirmed that production on the upcoming series adaptation of Robert Jordan’s bestselling novel series The Wheel of Time has finally been completed in the Czech Republic. The filming wrap also comes with the announcement that Amazon has officially granted the Rosamund Pike-led fantasy series an early second season renewal.
With this many Ta’veren in one place, one season was never going to be enough. #TheWheelOfTime #TwitterOfTime pic.twitter.com/CtuGitxPSn
— The Wheel Of Time (@TheWheelOfTime) May 20, 2021
“The belief Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television have shown in The Wheel of Time has been incredible to see throughout the entire process of making this show. Getting a second season order before the first season has even premiered is such a vote of confidence in the work we are doing and the property itself, and we couldn’t be happier to be able to continue to live and work in the world Robert Jordan created,” showrunner and executive producer Rafe Judkins said in a statement. “This property is one I’ve loved since I was a teenager, and seeing it brought to life with the resources to make it truly worthy of what’s on the page is something I can’t wait for the other fans of the books to see. And Season 2 just keeps expanding the world we built in Season 1.”
RELATED: Netflix’s The Witcher Season 2 Finally Wraps Production!
Co-Head of Television at Amazon Studios Vernon Sanders added, “The Wheel of Time is a beloved series of fantasy novels from Robert Jordan, renowned for the rich world and diverse characters he created. The approach Rafe and his team have taken with this project is a testament to Amazon Studios’ commitment to deliver something special for the devoted fans around the world. In partnership with the team at Sony Pictures Television, we wanted our Prime Video customers to be delighted that a second season is already in the works so that they would know that the journey would continue.”
The project has been in development since 2017 at Sony Pictures Television and had only secured a series order from Amazon in 2018. 20 years ago, NBC was actually the first one who attempted to adapt The Wheel of Time novels. However, it was ultimately canceled and the network lost the screen rights, with Jordan selling the film, TV, video game, and comic rights to Red Eagle Entertainment in 2004.
Click here to purchase the first book in the series!
The Wheel of Time is set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists, but only women can use it. The story follows Moiraine (Pike), a member of the shadowy and influential all-female organization called the ‘Aes Sedai’ as she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women. Moiraine believes one of them might be the reincarnation of an incredibly powerful individual, whom prophecies say will either save humanity or destroy it. The series draws on numerous elements of European and Asian culture and philosophy, most notably the cyclical nature of time found in Buddhism and Hinduism.
The series features an ensemble cast led by Oscar nominee Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), Daniel Henney (Wolverine), Álvaro Morte (Money Heist), Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), Kae Alexander (Game of Thrones), Madeleine Madden (Tidelands), Zoë Robins (Power Rangers Ninja Steel), Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones), Barney Harris (Clique), Marcus Rutherford (Obey), Josha Stradowski (Just Friends), Priyanka Bose (Lion), Taylor Napier (All About April) Emmanuel Imani (Black Earth Rising) and more.
RELATED: Amazon’s Lord of the Rings Synopsis Teases Setting & Familiar Characters
The series is developed and executive produced by Rafe Judkins, who also serves as the showrunner. Emmy nominee Uta Briesewitz (Westworld) directed the first two episodes. It is produced by Sony Pictures TV, with Harriet McDougal, Jordan’s widow, will serve as a consulting producer. Executive producers are Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon of Red Eagle Entertainment, Ted Field and Mike Weber of Radar Pictures and Darren Lemke with Pike also set as producer.
Wheel of Time began with The Eye of the World back in 1990 and ended with A Memory of Light in 2013. The final book was finished by Brandon Sanderson, as Jordan passed away in 2007. The eighth through fourteenth books in The Wheel of Time series each reached number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. There are 14 novels in the series, which was nominated for a Hugo Award after its completion. Combined, the books have sold more than 90 million copies, second only to fantasy novel champion The Lord of the Rings — which is also being developed into a series for Amazon.
