Deadline has brought word that the cast for Amazon’s series adaptation of the fantasy novel franchise The Wheel of Time is expanding with the additions of Priyanka Bose (Lion), Taylor Napier (All About April) and Emmanuel Imani (Black Earth Rising) in recurring roles.
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The trio will be joining previously announced cast members Daniel Henney (Big Hero 6), Madeleine Madden (Tidelands), Zoë Robins (Power Rangers Ninja Steel), Barney Harris (Clique), Marcus Rutherford (Obey), and Josha Stradowski (Just Friends). Based on Robert Jordan’s long-running fantasy epic of the same name, the series will be led by Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), who will play the lead role of Moiraine.
The Lion star has signed on to play Alanna Mosyani, a member of the organization of powerful women the Aes Sedai, renowned for her kindness and her temper. She has two Wanders by the names of Ihvon (Imani) and Maksim (Napier), who all have a complicated relationship built on love, sex and respect that make them a force to be reckoned with in battle.
Buy the first book in the series here.
The Wheel of Time, which has sold over 90M books worldwide, is set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists, but only women can use it. The story follows Moiraine (Pike), a member of the shadowy and influential all-female organization called the ‘Aes Sedai’ as she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women. Moiraine believes one of them might be the reincarnation of an incredibly powerful individual, whom prophecies say will either save humanity or destroy it. The series draws on numerous elements of European and Asian culture and philosophy, most notably the cyclical nature of time found in Buddhism and Hinduism.
Emmy nominee Uta Briesewitz (Westworld, This Is Us, Jessica Jones) will direct the first two episodes. Rafe Judkins (Agents of SHIELD, Hemlock Grove) is developing the series for TV and will serve as showrunner, with Sony Pictures TV co-producing. Judkins is also executive producing alongside Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon of Red Eagle Entertainment, Ted Field and Mike Weber of Radar Pictures and Darren Lemke. Harriet McDougal, Jordan’s widow, will serve as a consulting producer. Pike will also produce.
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Wheel of Time began with The Eye of the World back in 1990 and ended with A Memory of Light in 2013. The final book was finished by Brandon Sanderson, as Jordan passed away in 2007. The eighth through fourteenth books in The Wheel of Time series each reached number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. The story follows a group of characters lead by Rand al’Thor on the search for the Dragon Reborn. There are 14 novels in the series, which was nominated for a Hugo Award after its completion. Combined, the books have sold more than 90 million copies, second only to fantasy novel champion The Lord of the Rings — which is also being developed into a series for Amazon.
