The Wheel of Time Trailer: Women With Powers Protect the World in Amazon Adaptation — Plus, Get Premiere Date
The Wheel of Time turns in the first, action-packed teaser trailer for Amazon Prime’s adaptation of the best-selling book series, which was released on Thursday.
It was also announced that the (already-renewed) series‘ first three episodes (of eight total) will premiere Friday, Nov. 19, with new episodes available each Friday thereafter — leading up to the season finale on Dec. 24.
Update: And on Oct. 7, a new “heroes vs. villains”-themed poster was released, below.
Based on Robert Jordan’s fantasy novels, The Wheel of Time is set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists and only certain women are allowed to access it. The story follows Moiraine (played by Gone Girl‘s Rosamund Pike), a member of the incredibly powerful, all-female organization called the Aes Sedai, as she arrives in the small town of Two Rivers. There, she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity.
The sprawling cast also includes Sophie Okonedo (Flack) as the legendary Amyrlin Seat, Siuan Sanche; Kae Alexander (Krypton) as Min Farshaw; Kate Fleetwood (Harlots) as Liandrin Guirale; Peter Franzen (Vikings) as Stepin; Clare Perkins (EastEnders) as Kerene Nagashi; Daniel Henney (Criminal Minds) as al’Lan Mandragoran; Madeleine Madden (Picnic at Hanging Rock) as Egwene Al’Vere; Marcus Rutherford (Bulletproof) as Perrin Aybara; Barney Harris (Clique) as Mat Cauthon; Zoe Robins (Power Rangers Ninja Steel) as Nynaeve; and Josha Stradowski (High Flyers) as Rand Al’Thor.
The Wheel of Time was adapted for the small screen by executive producer/showrunner Rafe Judkins (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hemlock Grove). Larry Mondragon and Rick Selvage of Red Eagle Entertainment (Winter Dragon), Ted Field and Mike Weber of Radar Pictures (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Darren Lemke (Shazam!), Marigo Kehoe and Uta Briesewitz also serve as executive producers.
Briesewitz also directed the first two episodes, and Pike has a producer credit on the Amazon Studios/Sony Pictures Television co-production.
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UGH.
It sounds really good, but I really don’t like Rosamund.
Mind blown!!
This trailer looks amazing. I finished the series last year after about 2 years of reading it off an on and what a journey it was to get to the end. I’m excited to revisit this world again through the amazon series. There are neither beginnings or endings to the turning of the wheel of time but this is a beginning.
Looks terrific! I can’t wait! I gotta catch up on the book series. It’s interesting that they’re playing up the female roles a lot more. Arguably, the book can lean towards sexism in some readings of it, which I do tend to agree with in how they’re written(How often is a woman, ‘crossing her arms under breast’…). This trailer plays up the whole LADIES IN POWER while the book is more about Rand. I wonder if the show, overall, will focus more on the women, and do a better job of expanding on how the distrust for the Aes Sedai is often misplaced.
To the common folk the distrust is a bit much,but those witches always meddling with people who don’t need their assistance!!
It may be unfair, but Rosamund Pike has been so effective playing the most horrible people in movies such as “Gone Girl” and “I Care a Lot.” It would be hard to see her as a hero.
I guess to know if you’re being unfair, are there any male actors you feel that way about? I know I has a hard time being convinced to watch Ted Lasso because Jason Sudeikis was such a terrible dude in Collossal (awesome movie btw). I’m glad I finally gave it a try.
How about James Spader (at least, pre-“Blacklist”), who always seemed like kind of a creep? They even joked about it on “Gilmore Girls”:
Rory: I got home from this awful set-up.
Lane: The guy your grandmother brought by?
Rory: That’s the one.
Lane: He was that bad?
Rory: James Spader in “Pretty in Pink.”
Lane: You could have just stopped at “James Spader.”
I will watch it just for Rosamund Pike! She’s such a powerful actor.
Is that schedule right? I thought there was only 6 episodes, but 3 on November 19th plus one every Friday until December 24th is 8.
6 would be insanely short
Everywhere else is reporting just 6 episodes so I’m not sure. I hope they wouldn’t burn off half a season and then drag out the rest, that would be stupid. I thought I read somewhere they planned on adapting 2 books per season, for 7 seasons total, but 6-8 episodes isn’t long enough for that I wouldn’t think.
EIGHT EPISODES (confirmed)
Thanks for the confirmation!! So glad it’s 8 episodes instead of 6!!!
It definitely looks like they’re putting their own spin on it which could be good. The 3 Ta’veren were barely even in the trailer. It’ll be interesting to see if they focus on other characters more to have more creative control. The only thing I’m not sold on right now is the cgi, but hopefully that can be touched up. I’ll be interested to see how they show off weaves and the differences between saidar and saidin.
I think it’s more they’re trying to avoid spoilers from over-focusing on those characters. Discovering the destiny of each individual is part of the WoT journey. :-)
I am very pleased by this trailer. I have been a big fan of this series since the 80s. So I had some reservations. But from the casting to the various news coming out about their process, including it seems like the people who are adapting it sound like they understand the story and what it means to the fans and and have a vision for it, makes me feel hopeful.
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There are some things in the trailer I immediately recognize from just how I imagined they were. And it seems weird that Rand is such a central character but isn;’ the central figure of the trailer, but so is the woman-centric magic system that drives so much of the plot and they chose to emphasize that more in the trailer which I think is a smart decision. Keeping my fingers crossed this does not disappoint.
Remember we don’t know who is the DR at the beginning of the story, so I think having a broad focus on all the characters at the beginning is in consideration of that.
Let’s just hope they do not force in “affirmative action” changes like so many other live productions of well established books and comics. That sort of thing is unwanted, tiring, and brain washing our youth.
It’s fiction set in a fantasy world. Just because the vision in your head is all white people doesn’t mean that’s how it has to be. The real brainwashing has been the years of movies and shows that didn’t reflect the diversity of the real world.
Just jumping in to say that it being a fantasy world doesn’t mean anything goes. Not that such a world cannot be diverse, far from it, but it also doesn’t mean you can do just anything. Worldbuilding is a complex endeavour to do well. For example, pick up the recently released The Nature of Middle-earth. Tolkien was and still is the master.
And in fact the books are pretty diverse. Many cultures and nations with different ethnicities and traditions.
Have you read the books? Most characters are described in details, including their appearance. For example Siuan Sanche is clearly a white woman, while her friend Leane Sharif has darker skin. The books are very diverse on their own.
Make sure you bleach your white hood before the premiere, Bob. Those tired racist tropes in fantasy have been told time and time again. Here’s to new storytelling…like this show embracing a world that feels real.