"Wheel of Time Boss Cites Strong Viewership, Eyes Expanse-Style Revival"

Though Amazon's cancellation of The Wheel of Time after Season 3 seemingly spells the end for the adaptation, showrunner Rafe Judkins remains hopeful—pointing to The Expanse as proof that revivals can happen.

Based on Robert Jordan's beloved fantasy saga, The Wheel of Time stars Rosamund Pike and initially struggled with book fans over significant deviations from the source material. However, Season 3 won over audiences and appeared to set the stage for an exciting future—until Prime Video abruptly pulled the plug following what Deadline described as "lengthy deliberations." Reports suggest executives supported the show but ultimately couldn't justify its financial viability.

Brandon Sanderson, who completed Jordan's series, shared his disappointment: "It's a shame—despite my critiques, the show had a passionate fanbase that deserved better than cancellation after its strongest season. My involvement was largely symbolic; they wanted my name for credibility but never sought meaningful creative input."

Judkins broke his silence in a heartfelt social media statement, acknowledging he couldn't provide "a clear explanation" for the cancellation. He emphasized the show's global popularity, noting its impressive 20-week appearance in Nielsen's Top 10—a rare achievement in modern streaming.

The showrunner lamented their inability to complete Jordan's epic saga and criticized the industry's shift toward shorter series designed merely to attract quick subscriber growth. "This undermines television's greatest strength—long-form storytelling," Judkins wrote. "Great TV, like fantasy epics, deserves room to evolve."

Over 130,000 fans have since signed petitions urging studios to "Finish the story!" Though unlikely, some hope Apple TV+ might rescue the series, given its investment in premium sci-fi/fantasy content.

Judkins remains cautiously optimistic, citing The Expanse's revival by Amazon after SyFy's cancellation. "Perhaps our story isn't over," he mused. "The books always defied conventional endings—why shouldn't we?"

However, TVLine reports the series isn't currently being shopped to other platforms, dashing hopes for an immediate continuation. Below is Judkins' complete statement:

When asked why The Wheel of Time was canceled, I wish I had a simple answer. What I know is this: our cast and crew delivered something extraordinary—a show beloved by fans, critics, and millions worldwide (evidenced by 20 weeks in Nielsen's Top 10).

We committed from day one to adapt the full saga because, like the best TV, Jordan's work deepens with time. Falling short of that vision devastates us all.

The industry's pivot toward truncated storytelling sacrifices television's unique power. But I believe executives still recognize the value of long-form narrative—and that we'll eventually return to what TV does best.

Could another platform complete our journey? It's rare—but possible. Amazon itself proved this by saving The Expanse. Maybe, like the books, our show will redefine what an "ending" can be. These characters—and these fans—deserve nothing less.