Amazon has given a series order to an adaptation of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, making it the second big TV series that will be coming to Amazon Prime Video following the already announced The Lord of the Rings series.
The Wheel of Time series first published in 1990 has sold over 90 million books worldwide and is set in a sprawling fantasy world where magic exists although only women are capable of using it.
The hour-long action-fantasy episodes of The Wheel of Time will be produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios with Rafe Judkins as executive producer, and roll out on Amazon Prime Video in over 200 countries and territories.
The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine, a member of the shadowy and influential all-female organisation called the Aes Sedai as she starts a dangerous journey with five young men and women.
Moiraine believes one of them might be the reincarnation of an incredibly powerful person, whom prophecies say will either save humanity or destroy it. The series draws on numerous elements of European and Asian culture and philosophy, most notably the cyclical nature of time found in Buddhism and Hinduism.
"The Wheel of Time is endlessly fascinating and resonates hugely with fans as one of the best-selling global properties, and we were drawn to its timely narrative featuring powerful women at the core," says Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios in a statement and who spoke in London at the Amazon Prime Video Presents showcase.
"We're thrilled to extend our relationship with devotees who've found the book series transformative and welcome new ones by bringing it to life on Prime Video for viewers worldwide."
"Developing and producing Robert Jordan’s beloved 14 books-series for TV is a big undertaking, and we don't take it lightly," says Sharon Tal Yguado, head of event series at Amazon Originals.
"We believe that Rafe's personal connection to the material and soulful writing will resonate with the book’s passionate fans."
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to produce The Wheel of Time with our friends at Amazon," says Chris Parnell, Sony Pictures Television co-president.
"In Rafe Judkins, we've found a brilliant visionary that is a true fan of the books and ready to bring Robert Jordan’s world to life."
Rafe Judkins says "for so many people, including me, this book series has served as a world to escape to, to lose yourself in, to devour and inhabit completely. And I couldn't be more honoured to be the one finally bringing that world to life on screen, for old fans to lose themselves in all over again and new fans to discover for the very first time".
