The Wheel of Time adaptation rights owner iWoT has announced several projects are in development including an animated series, games and more. Sounds good for Wheel of Time fans eh? However, ask any of the veteran fans how they feel about this announcement and they’ll tell you the same thing, none of them will see the light of day.

I’ll get to the why fans are so cynical after the official news as covered by Variety,

‘A slew of new projects based on Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time” fantasy novels are in the works from IP owner iwot Studios and “Arcane” producer and Riot Games’ “League of Legends” vet Thomas Vu.’

‘Under a new production partnership between iwot and Vu and Anthony Borquez’s media company, Initiate Entertainment, the pair will collaborate with iwot Studios CEO Rick Selvage and chief operating officer Larry Mondragon (both producers on Amazon’s now-ended “The Wheel of Time” live-action TV series) to develop and produce a new video game, animated feature films and a new animated television series based on “The Wheel of Time.”’

However, here is the key issue right here,

‘Vu’s new “Wheel of Time” PC/mobile video game, and film and TV series projects, which do not yet have attached streamers or distributors, are “aimed at broadening the franchise’s reach across platforms and engaging fans worldwide.”

RELATED: How To Finish Wheel Of Time Now The Show Is Cancelled

Who is paying for any of this? There are no rich studios linked to any of these projects. But surely Cam, someone must be keen, or else why would they announce it? Well let’s talk about the history of iWoT shall we a little.

The History of Failure of Read Eagle/iWoT

One of the last things Robert Jordan released before his death was to tell fans how the company that is now iWoT fromerly branded as Red Eagle, treated him terribly. Cut a long story short, this company basically convinced team Jordan to sell them the rights and have produced absolutley nothing of value in two decades. So many projects have been announced and none were ever made.

At one point Harriet (Jordan’s widow and editor of the books) was hopeful that the right were about to return to Team Jordan due to iWoT producing nothing. The firm then produced a cheap piece of rubbish pilot starring Billy Zane called The Winter Dragon. They made no money from it, but it was enough to keep the rights with them. 

Yes, we did get a live-action TV series but this was Sony getting the rights from iWoT and then getting Amazon to pay for it. iWoT execs had producing credits on the show, but they were barely involved. 

Additionally it was only recently that iWoT announced an RPG Wheel of Time game was in development and it has already been reportedly cancelled before this announcement was made. 

Therefore, when you know the history, you can see why this announcement, with no money behind it yet sounds very hollow to fans of the books. I’ll have a guess one cheap thing will be produced to keep the rights again and that will be it.

Could I Be Wrong?

I do hope I am wrong actually. Vu is certainly a big enough name creatively to perhaps get a studio interested. Yet for now no studios are attached. There’s also no studio/money attached yet to the proposed live-action movies mentioned below. 

‘iwot confirmed to Variety these projects from Vu are “distinct” from and in addition to the previously announced forthcoming “Wheel of Time” films, including 3D feature “The White Tower” and director Kari Skogland’s live-action movie “Age of Legends,” and the open-world AAA RPG video games iwot studios currently has in development at iwot Games Montréal.’

That RPG game is the one that is reported as being dead an buried already by the way. Let me also ask you why anyone would want to see a Wheel of Time prequel movie before there has been been a movie or a completed series of the main story? This would be akin…in fact more so, to Rings of Power in terms of fan fiction. Apart from the brief mentions in the main series Jordan didn’t write much about the Age of Legends. 

Sadly I doubt much of this will see the light of day, or be any good if it does. I however do hope I am wrong though, as I love the story. Could I and the other Wheel of Time fans be wrong and finally we are getting something good? 

I’ll be very, very surprised, but I remain hopeful. That’s the best I have. 

What do you think of the news iWoT has announced several Wheel of Time projects are in development including an animated series, games and more? Will you ever see any of these shows, movies or games? Thoughts below. 

 

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