Streamer suddenly axes massive show three seasons in

One of the world’s biggest streamers has axed one of its most expensive shows, just three seasons after its much-hyped debut.

The Wheel of Time has taken its final spin … the series has been cancelled at Prime Video. Deadline, who broke the news, cites financial reasons for the series’ cancellation in their report, though notes that the streamer’s executives like the series “creatively.”

According to the outlet, Prime Video and Sony Pictures Television, who co-produce the series, will continue to support The Wheel of Time Season ‘s Emmys campaign.

Among the stars of the Prime Video series adaptation of Robert Jordan‘s Wheel of Time book series are Rosamund Pike (who also served as an executive producer), Daniel Henney, Josha Stradowski, Natasha O’Keeffe, Zoë Robins, Sophie Okonedo, Marcus Rutherford, Dónal Finn, Ceara Coveney, Kate Fleetwood, Ayoola Smart, Kae Alexander, Priyanka Bose, Hammed Animashaun, and more.

The Wheel of Time was launched with much fanfare three seasons ago. Picture: Jan Thijs.

The third and final season premiered in March, with DECIDER’s Meghan O’Keefe deeming the latest instalment the show’s “most cinematic season” in her The Wheel of TimeSeason 3 review. She highlighted that Season 3, with its cast of “incredible actors” and “confidence” in its storytelling was “incredible to behold” — at least, until the end.

“Everything is great in The Wheel of Time Season 3 up until the end,” she wrote. “After the highs of the rest of the season, The Wheel of Time Season 3 Episode 8 feels like a slumping afterthought. The conclusions to most of the major storylines feels rushed. The show’s vast scope quickly contracts. Massive changes are made from the books to streamline potential future seasons and they leave tragically bitter aftertastes.”

In an interview ahead of The Wheel of Time‘s Season 3 release, Pike shared that she is “very proud” of how women can see themselves in the Aes Sedai.

Rosamund Pike starred in the fantasy epic series...

(...but Amazon prime just pulled the pin. Picture: AFP

“Robert Jordan wrote this fantasy series that people, namely women, who had never previously been able to read themselves into fantasy so easily, suddenly had role models everywhere in this series,” she continued.

Pike acknowledged that “Jordan wrote a very, very modern tale, which we know.”

“But I think the way the show’s been cast and what we’ve looked for in the diversity and even, you know, on all fronts — whether it’s in terms of ability or neurodiversity or race — we’ve really wanted to be inclusive in the Aes Sedai because power is everywhere. I think that’s the message we want to set forth. That power is — beauty, yes — but also power is another thing that isn’t governed by one particular look.”

The Wheel of Time Seasons 1-3 are streaming on Prime Video.

This story originally appeared on Decider and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Streamer suddenly axes massive show three seasons in