The Wheel of Time: Mind-blowing behind-the-scenes detail from blockbuster series

It’s one of the most ambitious and expensive shows around, with around 800 crew – and this behind-the-scenes detail will blow your mind.

WARNING: Mild season one spoilers ahead

A 350,000 square foot permanent production studio in the Czech Republic, with extra filming locations across Europe.

A crew of 800 people – including multiple directors, and producers – and a massive ensemble cast. A budget reportedly in excess of $100 million. Source material spanning 14 books.

On this set-up alone, The Wheel of Time is a huge and complex operation – but there’s another major factor playing out behind the scenes, making its scope on screen all the more impressive.

Based on the best-selling series by Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time tells the story of humble farm boy, Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski), who discovers he is the Dragon Reborn and is destined to either save the world or destroy it.

The show also stars Rosamund Pike as the wise and mysterious Moiraine, a member of the powerful all-female Aes Sedai, as well as Daniel Henney as Lan, Zoe Robins as Nynaeve, and Aussie actress Madeleine Madden as Egwene.

Rosamund Pike as Moiraine. Picture: Amazon Studios

The fact the core characters are largely separated leading into season two – which has just premiered on Prime Video – created significant logistic hurdles, and occasionally led to pure “mayhem” once they decided to shoot multiple episodes at the same time.

“Normally, we’d shoot in blocks – so four blocks here, two episodes,” producer Holger Reibiger told news.com.au on location at Jordan Studios, the The Wheel of Time’s main set in Prague.

“But sometimes, we’d have to overlap episodes – and one time, we had three directors here. You [all] have to prep, you have to shoot, it’s mayhem.

“You’ve got two or three units running and shooting at the same time – it’s exciting … but challenging.”

Executive Producer Marigo Kehoe, who’s impressive resume features The Crown and Outlander, added that there were also geographical headaches.

“There are locations which are being used by multiple directors on an episode,” she told news.com.au.

“So you might have two directors shooting when we’re away on locations, because they have different scenes they’re shooting … and each director has their own team of people around them.”

The set of Tar Valon at Jordan Studios in Prague. Picture: Bronte Coy

One such director is renowned filmmaker Sanaa Hamri, who may be a new addition for season two but is no stranger to the genre, thanks to her work on Prime Video’s other high-fantasy series, The Rings of Power.

“When it becomes more complicated, is when, for example, [fellow director Thomas Napper] needs two actors to be on a certain set while I’m filming, then we realise, ‘Oh, wait a minute, I need one of the actors – and it’s on the same set’,” she explained, laughing.

“And then we’re on different locations around the world, and trying to make that work …”

Key to managing the dozens of different story threads and multiple teams working separately to bring them to life are the script supervisors, who stay on top of all the different departments.

“But for the cast, it’s challenging too – one day they’re on episode two, then they’re on episode four – and they haven’t shot episode three yet,” Reibiger explained.

“It’s very challenging, but we’re keeping track of it … so far.”

With such an ambitious schedule, it’s clear The Wheel of Time’s producers are aiming for maximum efficiency in a bid to close the lengthy season gaps, which have become the industry norm in recent years – to many fans’ frustration.

But as Executive Producer, Mike Weber – one of those responsible for initially securing the rights to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series and adapting it for the series – pointed out: “Fans are always complaining about how long it takes to get another season, but trust me – we’re going as fast as we can.”

The costumes and locations are even more extravagant in season 2. Picture: Amazon Studios

As plenty of fantasy filmmakers in recent years have learned, adapting a beloved book series has its advantages and pitfalls.

On the one hand, a massive built-in fanbase already exists, delivering a pre-packaged audience – at least for its debut.

But it also means that millions of people have already decided how their favourite books should look and feel – and are often very vocal when the filmmakers’ vision doesn’t match their own.

With endless fan forums, podcasts and YouTube channels dedicated to airing this specific feedback – just how much do the creative brains behind The Wheel of Time tune in?

“We’re very aware of it, and of course, we deal with it,” Kehoe explained.

“But we have to continue with [showrunner] Rafe Judkins’ vision for the show, and with the 14 books in this series, we’re only doing eight episodes per season. It’s an enormous cast. We have to pick the real fan-favourites and follow them.”

She added that season two was more “character-driven”.

“And we’re very aware of not only the fanbase, but the people who come in brand new to The Wheel of Time,” Kehoe said.

“We need to look at both sides of the coin, and there’s a huge amount this season the fans will be thrilled with, because they’re direct lifts from the book. We’re always very aware of it.”

It’s clearly a massive operation – with a price tag to match – but the Wheel of Time has already proven a big ratings success.

The series premiered in 2021, attracting tens of millions of eyeballs for a total of 1.16 billion viewing minutes in its debut week, making it one of the top five launches of all time for the streaming giant.

With season two having just launched, producers will be hoping to maintain their momentum.

The first three episodes of season two are now available to watch on Prime Video, with new episodes released every week.

*The writer travelled to the set in the Czech Republic as a guest of Prime Video.

Originally published as The Wheel of Time: Mind-blowing behind-the-scenes detail from blockbuster series