Prime Video has canceled The Wheel of Time after three seasons, leaving the epic fantasy series unfinished. The decision was made due to high production costs despite the show’s creative improvements and strong fanbase.
The Wheel of Time will not return for a fourth season on Prime Video. The streaming platform decided to end the series after lengthy discussions about its budget and viewership numbers. The show, based on Robert Jordan’s popular book series, had a strong start but faced challenges in maintaining its audience.
The third season, which aired its finale on April 17, 2025, was praised as the best yet. Critics gave it a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, higher than previous seasons. However, the high cost of production made it difficult for Amazon to continue the series.
“The Season 3 overall performance was not strong enough compared to the show’s cost for Prime Video to commit to another season,” sources told Deadline. The show dropped out of Nielsen’s Top 10 Originals chart faster than before, though it remained popular in some countries.
Fans of the books and the show are upset about the cancellation. Many took to social media to express their frustration, especially since the story was left incomplete. Some criticized Amazon for keeping The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power while canceling The Wheel of Time.
“They cancelled Wheels of Time, but they kept Lords of the ring who was watching that show,” one fan wrote on Facebook. Others blamed changes from the original books for losing viewers early on.
“Should have made it accurate to the books. They lost half the fanbase in ep. 1,” another fan commented. However, some viewers defended the show’s creative choices, arguing that strict book accuracy isn’t always necessary for a good adaptation.
The Wheel of Time starred Rosamund Pike as Moiraine, a powerful sorceress guiding a group of young heroes. The story followed Rand al’Thor, who discovers he is the Dragon Reborn, a prophesied savior or destroyer of the world. The series expanded on the books’ rich world but faced budget constraints as it grew.
Showrunner Rafe Judkins had hoped to finish the full story. “I really want to deliver this full series,” he said in an interview. He believed the show was improving each season, much like the books did. Unfortunately, the cancellation cuts the journey short.
Prime Video and Sony TV will still promote the show for Emmy consideration. Meanwhile, fans are hopeful another platform might pick it up. Netflix has revived canceled shows before, but no talks have been confirmed.
A video game based on The Wheel of Time is in development. Iwot Studios, which holds the rights, plans to release it in about three years. This could keep the franchise alive despite the TV series ending.
The cancellation reflects broader challenges in streaming. High-budget fantasy shows need huge audiences to justify costs. Even well-liked series can end abruptly if the numbers don’t add up.
For now, fans must say goodbye to The Wheel of Time on Prime Video. The third season finale provided some closure, but many storylines remain unresolved. The show’s passionate followers will keep hoping for another chance to see the Wheel turn again.
Credits: Sources include Deadline, IGN, The Hollywood Reporter, and Entertainment Weekly.
