Apple TV Reportedly Eyes 'Wheel of Time' Reboot
What happened
Apple TV is reportedly exploring a reboot of *The Wheel of Time* fantasy series. The move comes after Amazon's adaptation received a mixed reception, suggesting Apple sees an opportunity for a more faithful, lore-rich retelling with Brandon Sanderson's creative input.
Why it matters
Amazon's adaptation of *The Wheel of Time* was canceled after three seasons, not due to a creative decline, but because its viewership numbers no longer justified its high production costs for co-producers Sony Pictures TV and Amazon MGM Studios. The show's debut was strong, topping 1.16 billion minutes streamed in its first three days, but viewership tapered off in subsequent seasons. While the third and final season was considered its best by many fans and critics, it wasn't enough to secure a fourth. This cancellation left the sprawling 15-volume book series, originally penned by Robert Jordan, far from a complete screen adaptation. Brandon Sanderson, who completed the book series after Jordan's passing, served as a consulting producer on the Amazon show but publicly expressed frustration. He stated he was "largely ignored" and that the studio wanted his name for legitimacy without meaningful involvement in the creative process. Sanderson was particularly critical of the show's attempts to be "dark and ominous" like *Game of Thrones*, feeling it strayed from the hopeful tone of the books. The potential for an Apple TV+ reboot gains significant weight from a recent landmark deal the streamer made with Sanderson for his own "Cosmere" universe. That "unprecedented" agreement reportedly grants Sanderson a high level of creative control, a key element he found missing in his experience with the Amazon production. This positions Apple as a serious contender in the high-fantasy streaming space, a genre it has been cautiously exploring. By potentially acquiring *The Wheel of Time* and pairing it with a creatively empowered Sanderson, Apple could be signaling a strategy to build a major fantasy franchise to rival competitors like Netflix and Amazon's own *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power*.
Key numbers
- The show's debut was strong, topping 1.16 billion minutes streamed in its first three days, but viewership tapered off in subsequent seasons.
- This cancellation left the sprawling 15-volume book series, originally penned by Robert Jordan, far from a complete screen adaptation.
Quick answers
What happened in Apple TV Reportedly Eyes 'Wheel of Time' Reboot?
Apple TV is reportedly exploring a reboot of *The Wheel of Time* fantasy series. The move comes after Amazon's adaptation received a mixed reception, suggesting Apple sees an opportunity for a more faithful, lore-rich retelling with Brandon Sanderson's creative input.
Why does Apple TV Reportedly Eyes 'Wheel of Time' Reboot matter?
Amazon's adaptation of *The Wheel of Time* was canceled after three seasons, not due to a creative decline, but because its viewership numbers no longer justified its high production costs for co-producers Sony Pictures TV and Amazon MGM Studios. The show's debut was strong, topping 1.16 billion minutes streamed in its first three days, but viewership tapered off in subsequent seasons. While the third and final season was considered its best by many fans and critics, it wasn't enough to secure a fourth. This cancellation left the sprawling 15-volume book series, originally penned by Robert Jordan, far from a complete screen adaptation. Brandon Sanderson, who completed the book series after Jordan's passing, served as a consulting producer on the Amazon show but publicly expressed frustration. He stated he was "largely ignored" and that the studio wanted his name for legitimacy without meaningful involvement in the creative process. Sanderson was particularly critical of the show's attempts to be "dark and ominous" like *Game of Thrones*, feeling it strayed from the hopeful tone of the books. The potential for an Apple TV+ reboot gains significant weight from a recent landmark deal the streamer made with Sanderson for his own "Cosmere" universe. That "unprecedented" agreement reportedly grants Sanderson a high level of creative control, a key element he found missing in his experience with the Amazon production. This positions Apple as a serious contender in the high-fantasy streaming space, a genre it has been cautiously exploring. By potentially acquiring *The Wheel of Time* and pairing it with a creatively empowered Sanderson, Apple could be signaling a strategy to build a major fantasy franchise to rival competitors like Netflix and Amazon's own *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power*.
