Amazon isn’t content with having the grandfather of the fantasy genre, “Lord of the Rings,” coming to TV. No, it also is prepping another major fantasy novel series for its small-screen debut, “The Wheel of Time.” And now, we know who’s going to be the lady leading the way in bringing Robert Jordan’s series to life.
Variety is reporting that Rosamund Pike is signed to star in the upcoming Amazon “Wheel of Time” series that is about to begin production. For those not well-versed in fantasy novels, “Wheel of Time” tells the story of a world where magic exists, but only certain women (in a group called the Aes Sedai) are able to tap into its power. The series follows the adventures of Moraine (Pike) as she travels with a group of young people, who might include the one that is prophesized to save the world.
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Like “Lord of the Rings” and “Game of Thrones,” “The Wheel of Time” novels are up there with the best of the best of the fantasy genre. However, before the advent of Peak TV, the idea of making the novels into a film series seemed too limiting and costly. Now, with “Game of Thrones” proving that you can do fantasy on TV without sacrificing any of the budget, and with Amazon proving that money is no object, it seems like the time is right to bring “Wheel of Time” to live-action.
Pike, of course, is the Oscar-nominated actress seen in “Gone Girl.” She is also a former Bond girl, and has carved out a pretty great filmography, as of late. She’s appeared in films like “Hostiles,” “Beirut,” and last year’s “A Private War.” However, since her role in “Gone Girl,” she has yet to fully become the A-lister that was promised from that inspired performance. Maybe it’ll take a leading role in a major series like this to really make Pike a household name.
Obviously, with casting just beginning, we’re still a ways off from seeing “The Wheel of Time” on our screens, but fans should be getting excited, as it appears that it’s finally happening.
