Amazon Prime Video has two new fantasy book adaptations in development that should be massive, but neither is theWheel of Timereplacement fans of the genre are hoping for.The Wheel of Time’scancellationcame after its best run yet, with season 3 achieving nearly unanimous critical and fan acclaim. Despite citing budget and viewership as the reasons behind the show’s premature ending, Amazon isn’t slowing down when it comes to fantasy TV, with more on the way in various development stages.
Fantasy has seen a boom in Hollywood since the end ofGame of Thrones, with Amazon devoting premium resources toThe Wheel of TimeandThe Rings of Power, aiming to create a TV series as immersive and addictive as HBO’s epic.Robert Jordan’sWheel of Timebooksare some of the most prolific in the genre, and in the sense of creating something as sprawling and high-stakes as’Thrones, it was certainly a great choice. Now,it looks like Amazon is taking a new angle in its approachto fantasy.
Amazon’s Powerless & Fourth Wing TV Shows Should Be Major Hits
Amazon Has Two Massive Book Adaptations In The Works
Amazon only recently announced its adaptation of theYA fantasy seriesPowerless, by Lauren Roberts, and the adaptation ofFourth Wingby Rebecca Yarros has reportedly been in development since 2023, though updates have been few and far between. ThePowerlesstrilogymixes elements of high fantasy, romance, and dystopian themes, and is focused around a Hunger Games-like event called the “Purging Trials,” in which the main character, a thief, is forced to compete after saving the prince’s life.
Fourth Wingis one of the most popular modern fantasy novels, with its release in 2023 and the sequelsIron FlameandOnyx Stormfollowing quickly. Together, they composetheEmpyreanseries, which follows Violet Sorrengail, the daughter of a powerful general who is sent to Basgiath War College to become a dragon rider. As of now, it’s unclear whenFourth Wingwill move forwardpast the development stage, with audiences still waiting on updates.
Powerless & Fourth Wing Will Be Very Different From Wheel Of Time
Both Shows Fall Under The Romance Fantasy Subgenre
Though these titles might be popular fantasy, they’re very different fromThe Wheel of Time. Robert Jordan’s novels came in the late 20th century, when much of the fantasy genre was just riffing off of J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings. WhileThe Wheel of Timeis unique and prolific in many ways, it still has much of the same appeal. Fantasy of the 21st century has unleashed a variety of fresh perspectives, withYA and romance fantasy (romantasy) spreading like wildfire on TikTok and other social media platforms.
Amazon’s Fantasy Future Is Bright, Despite Wheel Of Time’s Cancellation
Hollywood Still Has Faith In The Genre, Even If It’s A Different Approach
I can understand the perspective of fans who want to seeThe Wheel of Timeand are hearing about YA and romance fantasy being adapted instead. It’s not the same thing, but the benefit of genre waves is thatif shows like this succeed, Hollywood will be more willing to invest in epic fantasy titles in the future.The Wheel of Timemay take a while toreturn to circulation, but titles likeMalazan andThe Stormlight Archive, among others, could have a future once film and television studios regain their footing inthe genre.
The 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, as well as the fantasy adaptations that have underperformed, will surely deter studios from spending the big bucks on more shows likeThe Wheel of Timeright now. However, if something likePowerlessorFourth Wingcan find success, Amazon might reconsider those other titles as worth looking at again. Not to mention,The Rings of Poweris still alive and well, with encouraging support from the studio. What matters for now is that fantasy isn’t dead at Amazon.
