After Prime Video’s adaptation ofThe Wheel of Timewas canceled so abruptly, I’m actually relieved that these two modern fantasy classics will not be getting TV shows anytime soon.The Wheel of Time’s cancellationin April 2025 was a devastating blow to fans of the hit series, and the disappointment extends beyond the Amazon show; it also raises questions about what will become oftheAge of Legendsprequel movies. Unfortunately, the series' fate continues a sad trend of cutting projects in the fantasy genre short — one that persists across multiple platforms.
Fortunately,The Wheel of Timebookscover the rest of the story for fans who were left bereft after the series' final episode. Butfrequent cancellations in the fantasy genrehave made it difficult to dive into new series, with many viewers expecting them to be cut short. It’s an odd reality, given that fantasy seems to be on the rise in book spaces. Of course, this means those bummed aboutThe Wheel of Time’s fate can use many fantasy booksas alternatives. Andthere are two options that I’m glad aren’t getting adapted in the near future,especially after Amazon’s disappointment.
After Amazon’s Cancellation, It’s A Relief Mistborn & The Stormlight Archive Won’t Become TV Shows
Brandon Sanderson Would Like Movies For His Series (& Only If It Feels Right)
Brandon Sanderson is well-respected in the fantasy genre, having even finished Robert Jordan’sWheel of Timeseries after the author’s death in 2007. And withMistbornandThe Stormlight Archiveessentially being modern classics within the category,it’s a huge relief that neither series will receive a TV adaptation anytime soon, if ever. AMistbornmovie adaptation was in development, butSanderson revealed it was returning to “square one"in December 2024. In a January 2025 interview withPolygon, the author also admitted he’s had offers to bringThe Stormlight Archiveto the screen.
AfterThe Wheel of Time’s cancellation, it’s probably a good thing that Sanderson is being smart about potential adaptations.
Despite all this,Sanderson isn’t jumping the gun when it comes to adapting his work. He toldPolygonhe doesn’t “feel it’s the right time yet” for aStormlightmovie or series, noting, “I am in the fortunate position where I can walk away from some of the best deals that might be offered to authors, and do what I think is best for the story.” And afterThe Wheel of Time’s cancellation, it’s probably a good thing that Sanderson is being smart about potential adaptations.
Sanderson also admitted that he’d like to seeThe Stormlight Archivemade into films rather than a TV show— and given thatMistbornwas going to be a movie, that seems to be his preference for both series. The author noted that “streaming hasn’t figured out epic fantasy yet,” which explains his hesitation about bringing his stories to the small screen. While films come with their own challenges — most notably squeezing Sanderson’s lengthy novels into a movie’s runtime — I’m relieved we won’t need to worry about either facing the fates of so many streaming shows.
The Wheel Of Time Being Canceled Proves Brandon Sanderson Right About Fantasy & Streaming
The Format Hasn’t Found Its Flow For The Fantasy Genre
Brandon Sanderson’s concerns about streaming and the fantasygenre were proven right afterThe Wheel of Timewas canceled, especially his comments regarding format. During his discussion withPolygon, Sanderson discussed what’s gone wrong with modern fantasy shows on streaming. He pointed toShadow and Bone’s untimely end, as well as the incredibly mixed response to series likeThe Rings of PowerandThe Wheel of Time.He noted that very few projects have gotten it right post-Game of Thrones:
“All I know is, right now we haven’t seen really great epic fantasy film television since the early, mid seasons ofGame of Thrones. Fifty million dollars per episode has not done it, so it’s not a matter of the money they’re throwing at it. The other thing we haven’t seen is any of these shows really taking off to the extent that I would like with the general public.”
Sanderson pointed to the episodic format of television as one potential issue with the streaming model, which might hinder the flow of series likeThe Wheel of Time.Clearly,Sanderson was correct that Hollywood hasn’t mastered the genre yet; the Amazon show’s cancellation drives home that even an adaptation with an established fan base and decent budget won’t necessarily succeed. Theseproblems need to be sorted beforeThe Stormlight ArchiveorMistbornare ever brought to the screen.
I’d Still Love To See Brandon Sanderson’s Books Adapted After Hollywood Fixes Its Fantasy Problems
The Stormlight Archive & Mistborn Could Help Boost The Fantasy Genre If Done Right
Even though Hollywood continues to have issues adapting fantasy stories, I would still love to see Sanderson’s works on-screen one day.Hollywood’s fantasy problems largely stem from a desire to streamline complex stories, not realizing that a lot of interconnected moments help guide those narratives. This is especially true in Sanderson’s works, and it’s why fixing such challenges could help revive the genre and pave the waySanderson’s best booksto be adapted.
If Hollywood focused more on letting fantasy stories unfold at their own individual paces rather than trying to fit them into a mold, Sanderson’s narratives could be replicated in a new format without losing what makes them engaging in book form. Unfortunately,The Wheel of Timeproves there’s still a long way to go before Hollywood reaches that point, especially on streaming.
The Wheel of Time
Cast
The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine, a member of the powerful all-female organization Aes Sedai, as she leads a perilous quest with five young individuals. Moiraine suspects one among them could be the prophesized reincarnation of a mighty figure destined to either save or doom humanity.
