(Pictured above: Top: Moraine Sedai, Left: Rand and Egwene, Right: Lan Mandragoran). Photo copyright belongs to the official Prime Video releases on Twitter.
With Wheel of Time opening in November 2021 on Amazon, Dune in the cinema, a new Witcher series on Netflix in December, and Lord of the Rings on Amazon in 2022, we’re spoilt for fantasy on the screen at this time.
I’m especially excited about the Wheel of Time. As you may already know it’s a series of 14 epic fantasy novels (plus a prequel) written by Robert Jordan (and after his death, Brandon Sanderson), the first of which was ‘Eye of the World,’ published in 1990. The much anticipated TV series is due to air in November 2021 on Amazon. Here’s a link to the teaser trailer:
One thing I really like about this series is the cyclical nature of time and the sense that there is a degree of repetition as aeons come and go, worlds are born and destroyed, and the forces of dark and light, and everything inbetween, fight one another for supremacy. Robert Jordan was interested in eastern religions and the way time is treated does relate to the circular notion of time in eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, as opposed to the linear way in which we appear to experience time.
I’m interested in the music, which is being composed by Scottish composer, Lorne Balfe after David Buckley left the show. That tune in the teaser sounds a bit like Bring Me the Horizon’s Can you Feel My Heart. It isn’t it, but definitely similar. Not sure if this is taken from an existing song, or a new composition. We will know soon if this music is significant for the series. I hope so.
Lorne Balfe has given us a taster of his music. It’s in Old Tongue, so I haven’t a clue what the words are, but it’s quite a different sound for fantasy, in places it’s epic-sounding (chorus), but also mysterious and eastern-influenced. Listen here:
News regarding the casting is that after season 1, Barney Harris, the actor playing Mat Cauthon, will leave. WoT have confirmed that he will be replaced by Irish actor Dónal Finn in season 2.
Due to a lack of studio space around the world at present, the village of Emond’s field had to be constructed in a quarry outside Prague, and then burnt down for a scene near the book’s beginning. As this will be a long-running series (and Amazon seem to be serious about doing all of it), the lives of cast and crew will be involved with it indefinitely, and they’ve already set up home in Czech Republic according to this interesting article from GQ which takes a look behind the scenes. Plus they have some nice photos of the fanatical white cloaks and smouldering Emond’s Field: https://www.gq.com/story/inside-amazons-wheel-of-time?mbid=social_twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_brand=gq&utm_social-type=owned&utm_medium=social
I’m halfway through re-reading ‘Eye of the World.’ Is anyone else reading? There is also going to be a new audiobook released just before Amazon airs the first episode. Moraine’s actress Rosamund Pike will be reading it, quite an undertaking for her considering its length. She seems very dedicated to the show, which is great to see.
Anyway, not long to wait. WoT airs on Amazon on 19th November 2021. I’ll be getting some popcorn supplies in, see you there.
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