Fans haven’t given up on The Wheel of Time—the Robert Jordan epic fantasy adaptation that was just abruptly cancelled by Amazon after three seasons—and neither has showrunner Rafe Judkins. Previous to what turned out to be the show’s final outing on Prime Video, Judkins spoke about his commitment to finishing The Wheel of Time‘s story, and he’s renewing that vow in a brand new social media publish.
Judkins took to Instagram to share his response to the cancellation (he feels followers’ ache, that a lot is evident), reward his collaborators, and weigh in on the present state of the TV business. Right here’s the total assertion:
“I’ve been requested the identical questions many instances the final week—why was The Wheel of Time cancelled? And the reality is, I don’t know. I want I might say one thing clear and tidy that explains to all of us who find it irresistible why it’s coming to an finish, however sadly, I can’t.
What I can say is that the actors and crew on our present are essentially the most proficient and great group of individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. And we’ve all been extremely fortunate to make one thing that not solely was beloved by followers (and even critics! ha!), however was additionally watched by enormous numbers of individuals everywhere in the world, showing within the Nielsen High 10 for practically 20 weeks, a feat only a few exhibits have been in a position to match within the final decade.
One in all my core objectives in making this present, even from the earliest crafting of the pitch, has been to inform the entire story. As a result of the Wheel of Time books do what tv has at all times accomplished greatest—get higher as they go. And as our actors and group got here on board, they too might see the potential if we had been allowed to complete this unimaginable story. We made many sacrifices, each private and inventive, alongside the way in which to get to that ending, so developing brief seems like a devastating blow for all of us.
A lot has been written about this bigger pattern in TV towards fewer seasons with much less episodes and discovering faster methods to accumulate extra streaming subscribers. However I genuinely imagine this goes towards the basic energy of tv—long-form storytelling. It’s an artwork kind, very similar to epic fantasy, which at its best possible, provides folks a spot to go and spend time with the characters that they love 12 months after 12 months. And I imagine there are executives, studios, and networks who know that. I imagine that we’ll discover our means by means of this present iteration of the business and again to what we do greatest—bringing nice characters into folks’s dwelling rooms and lives each week.”
Lastly, Judkins supplied some hope for Wheel of Time‘s future, referencing one other fan-favorite sequence that acquired a joyfully sudden resurrection after being cancelled.
“Will Wheel of Time get to do this with one other community and end the story? Sadly, it’s not one thing that occurs typically. Nevertheless it does occur. In reality, one of many causes we first selected Amazon as a house for the present was as a result of they had been within the midst of choosing up The Expanse after SYFY cancelled it. So, who is aware of, maybe the Wheel of Time present will do what the books have at all times managed to do since day one—defy the standard definitions of ‘beginnings’ and ‘ends’. I actually hope it does—as a result of this ebook sequence and these followers need to see the story completed.”
We’ll preserve you posted if and when The Wheel of Time does certainly discover a new dwelling on a distinct streamer. Contemplating the explanation given for the Wheel of Time being cancelled was monetary considerations, it’d must be a deep-pocketed outlet. Possibly Netflix will pull a Lucifer-style rescue and add one other fantasy title to its library, particularly now that The Sandman is ending quickly?
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