Remake of Cancelled Prime Video Fantasy Show That Could Run for 10+ Seasons Has a Big Challenge Thanks to Apple

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A cancelled fantasy series originally on Prime Video might get a surprising second life, potentially running for over ten seasons – but it faces tough competition from Apple. While the show, The Wheel of Time, faced criticism during its three seasons, it was starting to improve before it was cancelled, which came as both a disappointment and not a complete shock. Luckily for fans of Robert Jordan’s books, the story will continue in a new animated series produced by iwot Studios and Thomas Vu, who also worked on the hit show Arcane.

An animated adaptation of this long fantasy series is a great idea because it avoids the time and money problems that slowed down the previous live-action show. This new version has a chance to address the biggest complaints about the first attempt, especially its departures from the original books. However, the project still faces a hurdle: even though the original author, Robert Jordan, is no longer with us, it would be ideal to involve the writer who finished the series, Brandon Sanderson. His understanding of the story could make the adaptation more accurate and enjoyable, but he’s very busy and may not have time to contribute significantly.

The Wheel of Time Remake Will Struggle to Include Brandon Sanderson Due to His Apple Adaptations

While it’s unknown where the animated remake of Wheel of Time will stream or be shown, Brandon Sanderson will probably be concentrating on projects with Apple TV+ for the foreseeable future. Apple is adapting Sanderson’s Cosmere universe, turning Mistborn into a movie and The Stormlight Archive into a TV series. Sanderson intends to play a significant role in these adaptations, even writing the screenplay for the Mistborn film. He’s also currently writing the third era of Mistborn and has plans for many more books, including the continuation of The Stormlight Archive. Because of all this, he likely won’t have time to consult on the Wheel of Time remake, which is unfortunate. He’s a dedicated fan of the series, has experience with storytelling in various formats, and importantly, finished the final three books in the series after the original author, Robert Jordan, passed away in 2007.

Brandon Sanderson has publicly discussed problems with Amazon’s adaptation of The Wheel of Time, and with fantasy TV shows in general. He told Polygon that “streaming services have struggled with epic fantasy.” His insights could be valuable as the series is remade, but the new creators would need to collaborate with him much more closely than the team behind the Prime Video version did. Sanderson revealed in a YouTube comment that, despite being credited as a producer, he was largely kept in the dark about how the previous adaptation was made.

I wasn’t closely involved with the show, and I only knew what was publicly available. I was told they were trying to renew the contract and expected things to work out, but then I didn’t hear anything for two months. I found out about the cancellation from the news, just like everyone else. It’s disappointing, because despite my own issues with the show, it had a dedicated fanbase that deserved a better outcome, especially after what I thought was its strongest season. Honestly, I won’t miss feeling sidelined – they seemed to want my involvement for appearances only, without actually including me in any real decisions.

The recent Wheel of Time television series offers an opportunity to improve upon previous adaptations, but Brandon Sanderson would need sufficient time to contribute. Balancing this with his already full workload will likely be difficult, though he’s known for managing multiple projects simultaneously. If the production schedules for Mistborn, the Wheel of Time remake, and The Stormlight Archive happen to coincide, Sanderson should definitely have the chance to offer his input on this new version of the story.

Why Brandon Sanderson Should Be Involved in The Wheel of Time Remake

Brandon Sanderson would be an invaluable asset to a Wheel of Time remake. Not only is he a dedicated fan who completed the original book series, but he’s also gaining practical experience adapting fantasy stories for television. This, combined with his skill as a fantasy novelist, gives him a unique understanding of the process. He’s currently learning what works and what doesn’t when adapting a story – something he’s experiencing firsthand while working on his Mistborn adaptation – and this knowledge would be incredibly helpful when bringing Robert Jordan’s series to life.

We’ve noticed that adaptations often succeed when the original authors are involved. Examples like Disney’s Percy Jackson, HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and the early seasons of Game of Thrones demonstrate this. That’s why authors like Brandon Sanderson, Rebecca Yarros, and Sarah J. Maas want to have some creative control over how their stories are adapted. Fans often complain when movies or shows stray too far from the original books, and these authors are right to want to protect their work. The first attempt at adapting The Wheel of Time faced criticism for its departures from the books, so it makes sense to involve Sanderson more closely this time. Hopefully, the show’s creators will include him, and he’ll be able to commit the necessary time.

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2026-05-12 01:40