From Books To Your Screen: 4 Potential Fantasy Adaptations That Could Replace ‘The Wheel of Time’
Amazon is in trouble — and not just the rainforest now! (But seriously, consider donating to Coalition for Rainforest Nations. Think of a baby sloth for motivation.)
But no, we’re talking about Amazon, the e-commerce empire. Amazon Prime Video’s Citadel and The Rings of Power are a flop and a meh-sterpiece, respectively, and the streamer is running out of popular critically acclaimed series. To make matters worse, Amazon recently cancelled The Wheel of Time, slashing its fantasy TV street cred by about 80% and inspiring some fans to cancel their Amazon Prime subscriptions.
What can Amazon MGM Studios do now? It will need a seriously good fantasy adaptation to replace Wheel of Time if it wants to keep any fantasy fans who are still miffed about Rings of Power failing to impress them. Here are some potential fantasy properties that Amazon might consider pursuing.
The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
Why it’s a smart investment: N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy has won three consecutive Hugo Awards (the Pulitzers of sci-fi). Indeed, The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky comprise one of the most praised fantasy series of the 21st century. It would be a no-brainer to adapt it.
Why it’s perfect for Amazon: In this trilogy’s post-apocalyptic world, science fiction and fantasy blend to illustrate themes of power, oppression, and survival. Its complex characters and potential for stunning visuals would add up to the kind of prestige show that Amazon loves. While there has been talk of a Broken Earth adaptation previously, it hasn’t gone anywhere official. We’ll leave it up to the millionaires and billionaires to figure that part out.
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
Why it’s a smart investment: This saga has been called “The Godfather but with magic … and kung fu.” Who wouldn’t watch that? Its gritty, urban setting lets it rise above its fantasy competition, and its premise – a modern metropolis derives power from jade – is unique enough to stand out.
Why it’s perfect for Amazon: In addition to featuring prestige TV-ready character arcs and morally murky family dynamics, The Green Bone Saga takes place in an Asian-inspired alternate universe, just like The Wheel of TIme did. Plus, Peacock cancelled its planned adaptation of The Green Bone Saga not too long ago, so it’s technically up for grabs.
The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula J. Le Guin
Why it’s a smart investment: This is another no-brainer! The Earthsea Cycle is considered a cornerstone of high fantasy and is often compared to The Lord of the Rings. The protagonist Ged, a wizard-in-training, embarks upon a journey of self-discovery across six gorgeously philosophical novels.
Why it’s perfect for Amazon: Just like The Rings of Power and The Wheel of TIme, The Earthsea Cycle explores the ramifications of identity, power, and legacy. Its introspective tone would give it an edge over other streamers’ fantasy outputs. This could be Amazon’s response to His Dark Materials. As a bonus, it easily lends itself to diverse casting. And more importantly, it desperately needs a good series adaptation. Its Sci Fi Channel miniseries was roundly criticized by fans and its Studio Ghibli adaptation was only a loose interpretation. There’s supposedly a series in development at A24, but this has yet to see the light of day.
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
Why it’s a smart investment: In the vein of Game of Thrones, The Stormlight Archive summons a sprawling universe of military drama, magical hierarchies, and compelling POV characters to spin a world-spanning yarn. With five of its planned volumes already released, there’s plenty of plot to dig through for an adaptation.
Why it’s perfect for Amazon: While Sanderson has reportedly turned down multiple offers to adapt his texts, he’s still not opposed to his series undergoing an adaptation. If Amazon is able to coax him into a lucrative deal, then the Stormlight Archive could be a true spiritual successor to Game of Thrones — an elusive achievement that many streamers, including Amazon, have tried and failed to replicate. And since Rings of Power is not going to fill that role without a creative reset, someone needs to do it.
