Rosamund Pike brings a new epic fantasy series to our screens with The Wheel of Time but some fans will already be familiar with the story.
The Wheel of Time follows a group of powerful magical woman called the Aes Sedai as they try to prevent the prophesied end of the world.
The first three episodes of the show arrive on Amazon Prime Video on Friday November 19, 2021 before new episodes drop weekly. Pike stars as the lead character Moiraine, a member of the Aes Sedai organization, and also serves as a producer on the show.
There have been several attempts to get The Wheel of Time adapted to the screen before as the stories have existed for decades. Here's everything to know about the origins of The Wheel of Time.
Is The Wheel of Time based on a book?
Yes, The Wheel of Time is based on a book, or more accurately, several books. There are 14 novels within the series in total, with the first being published in 1990, and the last in 2013.
Author Robert Jordan created the series and wrote most of the books but after his death in 2007, Brandon Sanderson finished the series by writing the final three books.
Collectively, The Wheel of Time series has sold over 90 million books, but that number could rise with the launch of the new Amazon Prime Video series.
The series has also inspired a video game, roleplaying game and a soundtrack album.
The story of The Wheel of Time
The foundations of the story for the new Amazon Prime Video series were laid in the popular book series.
Anticipating the show's arrival, Amazon wrote, "Set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists and only certain women are allowed to access it, the story follows Moiraine (Pike), a member of the incredibly powerful all-female organization called the Aes Sedai, as she arrives in the small town of Two Rivers."
It continues: "There, she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women, one of whom is prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity."
How many episodes of The Wheel of Time are there?
The first season of The Wheel of Time will feature eight episodes.
The first three will be available to watch at launch on Friday November 19, 2021, while the remaining five will air weekly every Friday. The season finale will air on Christmas Eve, December 24
The series has already been renewed for a second and a third series by Amazon Prime Video.
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