The Wheel of Time getting canceled by Prime Video after three seasons hit fans like a ton of bricks. Even though the beloved fantasy series was highly regarded, there was some mild concern among fans that the underrated show could be in danger of cancellation. But no one could have guessed there would be an abrupt ending without the streamer giving the show a final season.
Immediately following The Wheel of Time's cancellation, devoted fans put up a good fight with petitions and campaigns to convince Prime Video to reverse its decision or for the series to be saved in some sort of fashion. A few months removed from the show ending, there's no movement on the Aes Sedai making a comeback, but cast members are still reacting to the cancellation.
We have heard from a few cast and crew members, some of whom have supported fans' efforts to save the show. But a fan-favorite star finally broke her silence about the axing. Natasha O'Keeffe, who plays Lanfear in The Wheel of Time, revealed her thoughts on the show's cancellation for the first time and offered a perspective that makes the sudden cancellation sting all the more.
The Wheel of Time cast didn't get to say goodbye before Amazon cancellation
While promoting her new movie Whitetail at the Toronto International Film Festival, Natasha O'Keeffe spoke with Collider, which asked about The Wheel of Time cancellation. According to the star, Prime Video ending the show came as such a surprise to the cast and crew that the weren't expecting it to happen and weren't able to say goodbye to each other on set after season 3.
"I guess you take the hit, and then you just have to sort of move on. It's really gutting. Nobody said goodbye properly because we assumed we'd see each other in the next season. They're a lovely team, too. For a big series and a big fantasy show, it was a real family effort, a family team that was created there. So it’s a bit of just dusting yourself off and going, 'Okay, then,'" O'Keeffe explained.
The actress believed that "Lanfear was only warming up" and she felt as though "season 3 had landed itself to really take flight" in a potential fourth season. The cast and crew were hopeful that they would have the opportunity to return for another season and finish telling the story for the loyal fans who stuck with the show from day one. But she's "sorry that it isn’t going into season 4. Really, truly."
During her interview with Collider, O'Keeffe also acknowledged the fandom's campaign and fundraising efforts. Whitetail writer-director Nanouk Leopold suggested that if fans were loud enough, Prime Video would have to cave and bring the show back in some fort. O'Keeffe addressed that petitions have been going around since the cancellation was announced in May
However, the lack of updates seemingly suggests The Wheel of Time has ended for good. Amazon didn't shop the show around to other networks and streamers, which mobilized the fan campaign in the first place. It's unfortunate because the show had such promise and was one of the best fantasy TV shows, maybe ever. The cast and crew deserved a proper goodbye as much as the fans.