Amazon Greenlights Fantasy Epic 'Wheel of Time' Series
Amazon is not playing when it comes to fantasy epics. Not only did it spend hundreds of millions of dollars on the rights to make a "Lord of the Rings" TV show, the tech giant is also greenlighting a "Wheel of Time" series.
"Wheel of Time" is a bestselling 14-book fantasy series written by Robert Jordan (he died before completing the final three novels; they were finished by author Brandon Sanderson from Jordan's notes). They have sold over 90 million copies worldwide.
The one-hour series, adapted by "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" writer Rafe Judkins, will follow Moiraine, a member of the shadowy and influential all-female organization called the Aes Sedai as she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women. Moiraine believes one of them might be the reincarnation of an incredibly powerful individual, whom prophecies say will either save humanity or destroy it.
The "Wheel of Time" series has been in development at Amazon for a year, but its journey to the screen has been as long and arduous as that of the heroes' in the books.
Jordan's first book, "Eye of the World," was published in 1990. NBC optioned the rights in 2000 but didn't turn it into a series. Jordan then sold the TV, film, and video game rights to Red Eagle, which made a half-hour pilot starring Billy Zane that aired on FXX. Now, Red Eagle is partnering with Amazon on this series.
It's clear Amazon is looking for its own "Game of Thrones," the mega-hit HBO drama that will conclude next year. Not only is it developing its billion-dollar "LOTR" property, Amazon is also adapting Neil Gaiman's "Good Omens" into a series and signed the author to an exclusive development deal.