Showrunner Claims Canceled Wheel of Time Had Huge Viewership

The cancellation of Amazon's adaptation of The Wheel of Time has sparked disappointment among fans, especially after a promising Season 3 that seemed to resonate well with viewers. Showrunner Rafe Judkins expressed confusion over the cancellation, despite the show achieving significant viewership numbers, including a stint in the Nielsen Top 10 for nearly 20 weeks. He emphasized the importance of long-form storytelling and lamented that the series would not be allowed to conclude its adaptation of Robert Jordan's fantasy epic. In a bid to reignite interest, over 130,000 fans have signed petitions urging for the show to be revived, drawing parallels to the successful revival of another sci-fi series, The Expanse. Although there's hope for a continuation, reports suggest the show is currently not being shopped to other streaming platforms.

While there is hope among fans and the show's creators that The Wheel of Time could find a new home similar to The Expanse, current reports indicate it is not being actively marketed to other streaming services. This poses a significant challenge for its revival, especially in the current landscape where longer series may not align with business strategies.

The Wheel of Time is based on a series of novels by Robert Jordan, known for its intricate world-building, expansive character roster, and deep lore. The adaptation aimed to capture the spirit of the original material, but faced criticism in its first two seasons for diverging from the source. Season 3 appeared to rectify some of these issues, leading fans to believe in its potential for continued success before the sudden cancellation announcement.