Rosamund Pike Nabs Lead Role in Long-Awaited Wheel of Time TV Adaptation

Rosamund Pike has nabbed the lead role in Amazon’s long-awaited forthcoming TV adaptation of the high-fantasy series Wheel of Time.

Please welcome Rosamund Pike to the Wheel of Time family. Say hello to Moiraine. #WoTWednesdaypic.twitter.com/577Hffwy6Y

— Wheel of Time Writers’ Room (@WoTWritersRoom) June 19, 2019

After a long gestation period since it was first announced as being under development back in 2000, Wheel of Time has finally cast its lead: Pike will play Moiraine, a member of the ancient, powerful and all-woman organization Aes Sedai, meaning “servant of all.”

In the 14-volume book series written mostly by James Oliver Rigney Jr. under the pen name Robert Jordan, Moiraine journeys across the world with five people she believes may include the reincarnation of a person prophesied to save or destroy humanity.

Pulling from European and Asian culture and philosophy, especially Buddhism and Hinduism, the series is built on a lush bed of intricately woven lore.

While Jordan kicked off the series with The Eye of the World in 1984, he died in 2007 while working on what he expected to be the 12th and final novel. Thankfully, Jordan left extensive notes that author Brandon Sanderson used to pen a three-volume conclusion published in 2009, 2010 and 2013.

Selling more than 90 million copies since 1984, Wheel of Time has cemented its status as one of the most popular and enduring fantasy series in history.

Pike, who’s also set to produce the series, most recently starred in the TV comedy series State of the Union alongside Chris O’Dowd. She was nominated for a Golden Globe last year for her performance as the celebrated war correspondent and eye-patched badass Marie Colvin in A Private War.

The series will be executive produced by showrunner Rafe Judkins, whose previous work includes Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Other executive producers include Larry Mondragon, Rick Selvage, Ted Field, Mike Weber, Darren Lemke, Marigo Kehoe and Uta Briesewitz. Briesewitz is also set to direct the first two episodes.

Initial efforts to adapt The Wheel of Time way back in the year 2000 didn’t look like they would pan out, especially after a pilot episode starring Max Ryan and Billy Zane face-planted in 2015 after it aired at 1:30 a.m. with no prior publicity. But luckily for fans of the beloved fantasy series, it looks like it’s time to get excited again. Just hang tight for that premiere date announcement.