It was Prime Video’s fantasy epic The Wheel of Time that swept the world last year as it descended into the complex and magic-filled universe imagined by the late Robert Jordan. Six animated shorts named The Wheel of Time: Origins were released alongside the series to give more context to the stories being told on-screen. “The Breaking of the World” and “The Fall of Manetheren” were the titles of the two three-minute shorts. Today at San Diego Comic-Con, the creative team and a surprise guest gathered together to discuss the process of creating “The Greatest Warder,” “Saidar, Saidin, Stone,” “The White Tower,” and “An Ogier’s Longing.” Among the narrators were Rupert Degas, Ida May, Steven Hartley, and Evelyn Miller in The Wheel of Time: Origins. Director Dan DiFelice and writer Rammy Park collaborated on these visually stunning shorts. Executive producers Craig Muller and Mike Weber worked alongside Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins.
The Wheel of Time: Origins will return next month with new shorts, among the many interesting announcements made at the panel. Unlike Season 1, when fresh episodes of the main series were accompanied by animated shorts, it appears like the return of Origins will stand on its own and provide viewers with something new to look forward to. It appears that Lan Mandragoran’s family will be the subject of at least one short film; the video shows Lan as a child with his parents before his time as Moiraine’s warder had come to pass. Daniel Henney’s presence on the panel today was explained by this shocking revelation.
Even while Prime Video did not conduct a panel for Season 2 of The Wheel of Time, the Origins session certainly piqued our interest. Rosamund Pike, Josha Stradowski, Marcus Rutherford, Zo Robins, Madeleine Madden, and Daniel Henney are all expected to return. There will be a change in the character of Mat Cauthon in Season 2, with Dónal Finn taking over the role and following through on the darker route hinted at in the Season 1 conclusion. Ayoola Smart, Ceara Coveney, Natasha O’Keeffe, Gregg Chillingirian, and Meera Syal are some of the other additions to Season 2. Returning to The Wheel of Time next month will be a new episode.