Wheel of Time Showrunner Laments Cancellation, Eyes Revival Like The Expanse

Although Amazon canceled The Wheel of Time after its third season, the showrunner remains hopeful for a revival, drawing inspiration from The Expanse’s comeback.

The Wheel of Time, adapted from Robert Jordan’s beloved fantasy novels and starring Rosamund Pike, faced criticism for deviating from the books in its first two seasons. However, Season 3 won over fans, raising expectations for future success.

Last month, Prime Video opted not to renew The Wheel of Time for a fourth season after what Deadline described as “extensive discussions.” Despite executive support, financial constraints led to the decision.

Brandon Sanderson, who completed Jordan’s book series, commented on the cancellation: “It’s unfortunate. Despite my issues with the show, it had a dedicated fanbase that deserved more after its strongest season. I won’t miss being sidelined; they used my name for credibility but didn’t involve me meaningfully.”

In his first remarks since the cancellation, showrunner Rafe Judkins shared his thoughts on social media. He admitted he couldn’t fully explain the decision but emphasized the show’s global popularity, noting its presence in the Nielsen Top 10 for nearly 20 weeks, a rare achievement in recent years.

Judkins expressed disappointment at not completing the adaptation of the entire book series, calling it a “heartbreaking setback” for the team.

He criticized the industry’s shift toward shorter seasons and fewer episodes to boost streaming subscriptions, arguing it undermines television’s strength in long-form storytelling.

As of now, over 130,000 fans have signed an online petition to “Save The Wheel of Time.” The petition’s organizers urge, “Complete the story—it deserves to be fully told!” However, hopes of Apple TV+ picking up the series seem unlikely given its existing lineup of high-budget fantasy and sci-fi shows.

Still, Judkins remains optimistic, citing The Expanse, which Amazon revived after SYFY’s cancellation, as a precedent for a potential revival.

“Who knows?” Judkins said. “The Wheel of Time books have always challenged conventional notions of beginnings and endings. I hope the show can do the same, as the series and its fans deserve a proper conclusion.”

A recent TVLine report, citing reliable sources, indicates the show isn’t currently being pitched to other platforms, dampening fans’ hopes for a fourth season.

Here is Rafe Judkins' full statement:

I’ve been asked repeatedly over the past week why The Wheel of Time was canceled. Honestly, I don’t have a clear answer. I wish I could provide a simple explanation for fans, but I can’t.

What I can say is that our cast and crew were an exceptionally talented and wonderful group. We were fortunate to create something cherished by fans—and even critics!—and watched by millions worldwide, ranking in the Nielsen Top 10 for nearly 20 weeks, a milestone few shows have reached in the past decade.

From the start, my goal was to tell the complete story of The Wheel of Time. The books excel at growing richer over time, much like great television. Our cast and crew saw the potential to finish this epic tale, and we made significant sacrifices to reach that goal. Falling short is a crushing blow for us all.

Much has been said about the industry’s trend toward shorter seasons and fewer episodes to drive subscriber growth. I believe this undermines television’s core strength: long-form storytelling. Like epic fantasy, TV thrives when it lets viewers connect with beloved characters year after year. I’m confident there are executives, studios, and networks who share this view and will guide the industry back to what it does best—bringing compelling characters into people’s lives week after week.

Will The Wheel of Time find a new home to finish its story? It’s rare, but it happens. We initially chose Amazon partly because they revived The Expanse after SYFY canceled it.

So, who knows? The Wheel of Time books have always defied traditional notions of beginnings and endings. I hope the show can follow suit, because this series and its fans deserve to see the story completed.