The other day, we learned that Amazon and Sony had cancelled The Wheel of Time, their epic fantasy show based on the books by Robert Jordan. We were big fans of the show, especially the excellent, recently concluded third season, so this bites.
Maybe the show will get picked up by another network or streaming service, but I wouldn't pin my hopes on it. In the meantime, cast members are starting to pay their respects online. That includes Marcus Rutherford, who played Perrin Aybara. He posted this message of thanks on his Instagram:
Ceara Coveney, who plays Elayne, posted her own message:
Both actors thank the people involved in The Wheel of Time, and there were plenty: from costumers to writers, directors, set designers, special effects technicians and more, everyone did their part to make this a special show that got better season after season. That's one of the reasons it rankles so that the series has been cancelled now, right when it was really coming into its own.
We haven't yet heard anything from cast members like Josha Stradowski (Rand al'Thor) and Rosamund Pike (Moiraine), but it's very possible we will. Both of them helped spread the word about a petition to renew The Wheel of Time before the bad news came in. Now, The Wheel of Time fandom may pivot to trying to get the show saved.
It's not impossible that some other network or streaming service could come in and save the show. The most likely savior seems like Apple TV+, since they have tons of money to spend and an obvious interest in genre fare; their lineup includes series like Foundation, For All Mankind, Severance, Murderbot and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, so obviously the people working there love sci-fi. And unlike, say, Netflix or HBO, Apple TV+ doesn't currently have a high fantasy series to call its own. Why not The Wheel of Time?
I dunno what I'm expecting, but it would be a real shame to let this show fade away right as its really finding its footing. But unless a miracle occurs, we mourn and give thanks.
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