The first season of Amazon’s adaptation of The Wheel of Time is set to premiere on November 19 and looks to tell the story made famous in Robert Jordan’s beloved fantasy novels. Considering this tale spans not just 14 novels, but also a prequel story and two companion books, there can be a lot to keep track of.
This guide will break down everything you need to know for The Wheel of Time’s streaming debut, including the full cast, all the images and trailers released so far, and details of its production from those who are bringing it to life.
The Wheel of Time TV Series Release Date
The first three episodes of the first season of The Wheel of Time will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on November 19, 2021
The Wheel of Time Episode Release Schedule
The remaining five episodes will air each and every week until the finale on December 24, 2021.
How Can I Watch The Wheel of Time?
The Wheel of Time will be available to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
How Many Episodes Are in The Wheel of Time’s First Season?
Amazon has confirmed that the first season of The Wheel of Time will consist of eight episodes. It has also revealed the names of the first six episodes, and they are as follows;
- “Leavetaking”
- “Shadow’s Waiting”
- “A Place of Safety”
- “The Dragon Reborn”
- “Blood Calls Blood”
- “The Flame of Tar Valon”
Will The Wheel of Time Get a Second Season?
Prior to ever airing an episode, Amazon announced that The Wheel of Time will be returning for at least a second season.
The Wheel of Time Cast, Actors, and Crew
While Amazon may not be casting all 2,782 named characters that appear in The Wheel of Time books, some of its biggest names will be making the transition from page to screen.
The show will follow Moiraine, played by Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Die Another Day, and Pride & Prejudice) as she and five young men and women embark on a “dangerous, world-spanning journey.” Furthermore, one of the party’s members is “prophesied to be the Dragon reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity.”
Cast List:
- Rosamund Pike as Moiraine
- Zoe Robins as Nynaeve al’Meara
- Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Ayabara
- Josha Stradowski as Rand Al’Thor
- Barney Harris as Mat Cauthon
- Madeleine Madden as Egwene Al’Vere
- Daniel Henney as Lan Mondragoran
- Johann Myers as Padan Fain
- Hammed Animashaun as Loial
- Alvaro Morte as Logain Ablar
- Alexandre Willaume as Thom Merrilin
- Kae Alexander as Min Farshaw
- Sophie Okoonedo as Siuan Sanche
- Peter Franzen as Stepin
- Kate Fleetwood as Liandrin Guirale
- Clare Perkin as Kerene Hanashi
- and more!
Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD and Hemlock Grove’s Rafe Judkins is serving as showrunner and will executive produce the series with Rick Selvage, Larry Mondragon, Ted Field, Mike Weber, Lauren Selig, and Darren Lemke. Uta Briesewitz, who has previously directed episodes of Stranger Things and Westworld, will also direct the first two episodes of Season 1.
The Wheel of Time is being produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with Red Eagle Entertainment and Radar Pictures.
The Wheel of Time Books
How Many Books are in The Wheel of Time Series?
The Wheel of Time series is made up of 14 fantasy novels by Robert Jordan that are surely worth a look if you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.
The Wheel of Time Story and Author Overview
The story of Wheel of Time spans thousands of years, but there is a core loop that is repeated each generation and involves a great hero known as the Dragon and an evil entity known as the Dark One.
These two figures are meant to face off in what is known as the Last Battle that will determine the fate of the world, and this cycle is repeated as the Dragon is reborn again and again. At one point, the Dark One, in his final act before he was defeated, tainted the magical source of the Dragon’s power. This caused all male magic users, known as the Aes Sedai, to be driven mad. This affliction was the main reason these Aes Sedai were hunted down and eliminated.
When the Wheel of Time actually begins, we follow protagonist Rand al’Thor as he discovers he is more than a simple farm boy and is able to wield the power of the Aes Sedai and may be the Dragon reborn.
As previously mentioned, Robert Jordan was the creator and author of the Wheel of Time books, but he unfortunately passed away while he was writing the final book, A Memory of Light. His wife and editor Harriet McDougal and fantasy author Brandon Sanderson completed the story based on his unfinished work and notes, and the tale was told.
The Wheel of Time IGN First Coverage
We debuted a ton of new information and coverage on The Wheel of Time as part of an IGN First special, and below you can catch up on each and every bit of news and lore we’ve released so far.
The Wheel of Time Showrunner Reveals Hidden Secrets in our Exclusive Trailer Breakdown
The Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins joined us to break down The Wheel of Time’s official trailer.
Amazon's The Wheel of Time: Who Are Moiraine and Rand?
While we were on The Wheel of Time’s set in Prague back in 2019, we spoke to Rosamund Pike, who’s portraying the powerful Aes Sedai known as Moiraine Damodred, and other members of the cast and they shared a bit about their characters.
The Wheel of Time: Aes Sedai Explained
In an exclusive interview with the cast and showrunner of The Wheel of Time, we discuss what makes the Aes Sedai so important to the story in this first season.
The Wheel of Time: The Dragon and the Dark One Explained
We talked to the cast and showrunner of the show and they explained more about The Dragon and the Dark One and what fans can expect from this first season.
The Wheel of Time: Bringing the Story to Life From Book to Screen
In our exclusive IGN First coverage of The Wheel of Time, we take a look at how showrunner Rafe Judkins and his team brought Robert Jordan’s iconic fantasy saga to life.
Is There a Wheel of Time Movie in the Works?
In July 2021, it was confirmed that X-Men: First Class and Thor writer Zack Stentz was said to have been signed to write a script for the first movie in a new Wheel of Time trilogy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Stentz's film will reportedly be called Age of Legends.
The film will be produced by Larry Mondragon and Rick Selvage of iwot productions alongside Ted Field and Justin Smith of Radar Pictures. James Leon, Eva Longoria, and Mike McGuiness are set to executive produce the film.
THR has also said that the movie is set to "complement the storylines" that will be featured in the Amazon series.
Age of Legends is not the name of a book in Robert Jordan's fantasy series, but the Age of Legends is a period of time within the lore of The Wheel of time. THR's report says the story will "be set several millennia before the time of the books in a futuristic utopia powered by a magical force shared by men and women known as the One Power."
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.