The Wheel of Time’scancellation is heartbreaking, but fantasy isn’t dead, andthese upcoming TV shows could fill the void for fans of the Amazon adaptation.The Wheel of Time’sseason 3 endingturned out to be the show’s finale, as Amazon axed the series after its most critically acclaimed run yet. As was the case with the show itself, the cancellation has evoked a strong, divisive range of emotions, with many applauding the choice to conclude it prematurely, while others have been appalled by the decision, leading to a petition to save the series with 180,000 signatures.
AfterGame of Thronesended in 2019, every streaming service in Hollywood wanted a fantasy adaptation. Now… not so much. After the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, as well as titles likeThe Wheel of Timenot meeting expectations, studios are more hesitant to shell out the big bucks for CGI-heavy speculative fiction on television. When rumors were circulating aroundMalazanorEarthsea, I would have suggested those. Now, there’s a different crop offresh fantasy projects in development, consisting only of those that have had updates in the past year.
7God Of War
In Development At Prime Video
I citedGod of Waras Amazon’s bestWheel of Timereplacement, and that’s likely the case in terms of tone. Amazon has romance-fantasy and YA fantasy adaptations in the works, but aside fromThe Rings of Power, there’s nothing else in the sprawling, epic fantasy sense. TheGod of Warvideo gamesmay not have as many characters asRobert Jordan’sWheel of Timebooksto draw from, but theyexplore a similarly high-stakes scenario, with the story leading up to a final battle that determinesthe fate of the world.
God of Warisn’t set in an original fantasy universe; it’s set in fictionalized versions of the realms of Norse mythology. Audiences will recognize characters like Thor and Odin from the Marvel films, but the interpretations are vastly different and arguably even more compelling. The main characters are Kratos, a Greek god (of war), and his son, Atreus, who set out on an adventure that mixes them up in the business of Asgard and the Norse gods. This series is primed to capturea vibrant, magical world similar to Amazon’sThe Wheel of Time.
6Fourth Wing
Fourth Wingis a contemporary romance fantasy book written by Rebecca Yarros as the first installment of her Empyrean series. The saga is wildly popular on TikTok, and though there haven’t been many concrete updates, Yarros shared that the series was still in development as recently as January 2025, while doing press for the latest novel,Onyx Storm. The romance fantasy subgenre is going to be hit or miss forWheel of Timefans, but it’sa story with dragons, magic, and compelling world-building of its own.
5Warhammer 40,000
Many viewers wouldn’t considerWarhammer 40,000as fantasy, but that’s only due to its futuristic aesthetic. Science fiction is about possibilities of what could happen, and fantasy is about what can’t happen. Aesthetically, this world might remind audiences more ofDuneorStar Wars, butit’s got space orcs and space elves, and it’s one of the few series in development that has the scope to match up toThe Wheel of Time. As an added treat, Henry Cavill is set to star in and produce the series.
4Barbaric
In Development At Netflix
In 2024, Netflix announced a TV series based on the fantasy comic seriesBarbaric. The show is being described as “Deadpool meets Game of Thrones,” which implies a significantlydarker and more comedic tone thanThe Wheel of Time, but it’s one of the few medieval fantasy shows in the works. Not to mention, with Michael Bay attached to the project and Sam Claflin (Peaky Blinders) and Patrick Stewart (X-Men) set to star, this could end up being a surprisingly fun hit.
3Magic: The Gathering
If you’re a fantasy nerd who’s read theWheel of Timebooks or loved the show like me, chances are you’ve played a game ofMagic: The Gathering. A trading card game turning into a TV series might be cause for some skepticism, but the franchise has a wealth of lore that’s been built around its thousands of cards. After many attempts to get the title off the ground as a film or TV series,an animatedMagic: The Gatheringshow is finally in production at Netflix.
For those who loved the Aes Sedai and the One Power, this is an excellent option.
Not only does Netflix’s brief first-look art demonstrate a compelling visual style, but the streaming service has plans to build ashared fictional universe outMagic.Aside from the animated show, there will be a live-action movie adaptation, and these projects are only the beginning.The Wheel of Timeis a more “high magic” fantasy title than something likeGame of Thrones, andMagic: The Gatheringwill take that aspect up a notch further. For those who loved the Aes Sedai and the One Power, this is an excellent option.
TheMagic: The Gatheringshow will be centered around iconic characters Chandra and Ajani Goldmane.
2A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
In Development At Max (2026 Premiere)
Game of Thronesis not only one of the best fantasy TV shows of all time, but it’s also one of the best TV shows of all time, regardless of the ending controversies. However, most audiences will have formed an opinion about the HBO epic now, and it’s evident that it’s not for everyone. For audiences who went toThe Wheel of Timefor something less dark, thenewGame of Thronesspin-off might be worth trying, as it’s set to be somewhat lighter in tone than the original show.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdomsis a prequel seriesset nearly a century before the events ofGame of Thrones, and it’s based on a series of novellas written by George R.R. Martin. It’s not going to be as sprawling and epic asThe Wheel of TimeorGame of Thrones, and it’s not going to have nearly as much magic. However,the novellas this show is based on have been praised for their exceptional character work, which those who had grown attached to Rand, Egwene, or other characters, might appreciate.
1Harry Potter
Most fans ofThe Wheel of Timewill likely be familiar withHarry Potterin some capacity, be it the books or the film franchise, which grossed several billion at the box office. Regardless, aHarry PotterTV showis well on its way, and the second adaptation of the highest-selling book series of all time is bound to make some noise, be it for mass acclaim or for controversy. In terms of aWheel of Timereplacement, this will likely be one of the best options available.
While it’s unclear ifHarry Potterdirectly draws influence from Robert Jordan’s books, there arenotable world-building similarities between the two. Both series are centered around a chosen one and the rise of a Dark Lord whose true name is taboo to speak. Rather than Darkfriends, Voldemort’s supporters are Death Eaters. One of the primary organizations among the protagonists is a school for magic, though the White Tower and Hogwarts have many differences. This might be a safe choice forWheel of Timefans' next fantasy series, once it comes out.
