WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time book series.
Amazon Prime Video's upcoming The Wheel of Time series is keeping the reveal of the Dragon Reborn -- a pivotal figure in the franchise -- close to its chest.
"One thing we're trying to hide from the audience is who the Dragon Reborn is, it's the mystery of the show as we start to unravel this story," series showrunner Rafe Judkins told Deadline. "People who have read the books will know, of course. The first book is told from the Dragon Reborn's perspective but the whole book series is an ensemble piece. One of the defining things about the book series is the different POV characters, [which we leaned into]. This show is the first fantasy series to have half of those POVs from women, so this is a really incredible ensemble piece in the way the book series does in its entirety."
Fans of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's novels know that unassuming sheepherder Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn -- the reincarnation of Lews Therin Telamon, the most powerful male user of the One Power, the name of magic in The Wheel of Time's world. Rand realizes his destiny in the finale of the first book in the series, The Eye of the World, which is told from his perspective. He remains the most pivotal protagonist throughout the novel series, though several books are told from the eyes of his companions.
Rand's ascension to Dragon Reborn status is a story that needs to be told over multiple seasons, Judkins said, warranting a slow burn: "For me, I always have to approach it as if we're going to get to tell the whole story that's in the books. If we don't approach it that way, then we'd set ourselves up to not stick the landing and these books have such a good ending. I really need to set us up to get there if we're able to. That's not up to me ultimately. If people watch it and Amazon wants to keep doing more, I'd love to continue to expand this world further."
Amazon's The Wheel of Time, in contrast, is basing its first season around the perspective of Rosamund Pike's Morraine Damodred, the Aes Sedai -- or female spellcaster -- who locates Rand and his friends in the quiet countryside village of the Two Rivers. The importance of Rand, played by Josha Stradowski, has been downplayed in the series' marketing, and Morraine stands front and center in most promotional images.
Season 2 of The Wheel of Time has already been greenlit. Season 1 will premiere on Amazon on Nov. 19.
Source: Deadline