Prime Video hit fantasy series The Wheel of Time, which recently completed its critically-acclaimed second season, was the topic of fan chatter this weekend at New York Comic Con. Two packed special events provided teases into The Wheel of Time Season 3, revealed insights into the second season, and gave additional surprises.
On Saturday, October 14, the creative team for The Wheel of Time took to the Empire Stage at New York Comic Con as part of a special two-hour panel titled Prime Video Presents: The Power of Prime, which featured three additional series — Invincible, Hazbin Hotel and Upload — and lots of exclusive content across these titles, including first looks, announcements, and screenings.
During the panel for The Wheel of Time, executive producer Marigo Kehoe, VFX supervisor Andy Scrase, and VFX producer Brian Shows spoke with moderator Damian Holbrook of TV Guide Magazine about the intricacies of the series’ impressive visual effects in season two, and they debuted a VFX highlight reel exclusively for the NYCC audience.
In a surprise and delight moment, series showrunner Rafe Judkins came on stage at the end of the panel to enthusiastic applause from the audience. Judkins revealed that The Wheel of Time Season 3 will focus primarily on the storylines from Book Four (The Shadow Rising), with elements of Book Five (The Fires of Heaven), an announcement that brought mass cheers.
Judkins also teased audiences that they will get to meet additional members of the Forsaken, and that the The Wheel of Time Season 3 will explore Dreamwalking, an ability to enter the dreams of others.
The excitement of the weekend continued Sunday, when Prime Video hosted a special in-theater screening of the action-packed season two finale of The Wheel of Time at the Whitby Hotel in New York for an excited audience of fans, who were thrilled to see the epic episode on the big screen. Judkins once again made a special surprise appearance to introduce the screening, and stayed afterward to participate in a Q&A about the second season with television critic Sean T. Collins.
During the conversation, Judkins teased more key The Wheel of Time Season 3 plot points, confirming that in addition to taking audiences back to the Two Rivers, the upcoming season will unveil fan-favorite cities, never before seen on screen, including Tanchico and Rhuidean.
Season Three will also visit the Aiel Waste, dive into the Aiel culture, and dig deeper into Aes Sedai politics at the White Tower. It will also explore new versions of channeling in other cultures, and will introduce the famous Sea Folk, a seafaring people known for trading.
The complete second season of The Wheel of Time, which has been Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and is now available on Prime Video. The second season was filmed in the Czech Republic, Morocco, and Italy.
The new season stars Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred, Daniel Henney as Lan Mandragoran, Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor, Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al’Meara, Madeleine Madden as Egwene al’Vere, Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara, Dónal Finn as Mat Cauthon, and Ceara Coveney as Elayne Trakand.
In the Amazon Original series The Wheel of Time, Rand al’Thor (Stradowski) learns he is The Dragon Reborn – a dangerous figure from history destined to save the world… or break it. Desperate to protect him from the Dark One, an army of powerful women must reckon with his burgeoning power and encroaching madness.
The Wheel of Time turns, and the Last Battle approaches. Though Rand thought he destroyed the Dark One, evil is not gone from the world.
In season two, threats new and very old seek out the young friends from the Two Rivers, now scattered over the world. The woman who found and guided them is now powerless to help, and so they must find other sources of strength. In each other, or themselves. In the Light … or the Dark.
The Wheel of Time was adapted for television by executive producer and showrunner Rafe Judkins (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hemlock Grove).
Larry Mondragon and Rick Selvage of iwot productions, Ted Field of Radar Pictures, Mike Weber, Darren Lemke, Marigo Kehoe, Justine Juel Gillmer, Sanaa Hamri, and Amanda Kate Shuman also serve as executive producers.
Rosamund Pike and Dave Hill also serve as co-executive producers, and Harriet McDougal, Brandon Sanderson, and Lauren Selig are consulting producers. The Wheel of Time is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.