Brandon Sanderson Responds To Wheel Of Time’s Cancellation After Its “Best Season”

Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson has weighed in on the discourse surrounding The Wheel of Time’s cancellation at Amazon. Brandon Sanderson is best known for his Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive epic fantasy sagas, but he was also the author responsible for finishing The Wheel of Time following Robert Jordan’s passing in 2007. Sanderson served as a consulting producer on the Amazon TV adaptation and has recently broken his silence on The Wheel of Time show’s cancellation.

In the comments section on a recent video on Sanderson’s YouTube channel, the author shared that he wasn’t directly involved in the show. His analysis, which has been critical of the show in the past, expresses that his involvement wasn’t much more than the studio wanting his name on it, with him saying, “I won’t miss being ignored.” On a more positive note, he expressed his regrets about the show’s cancellation following its strongest season, echoing a common feeling among fans. Read his full quote below:

I wasn’t really involved. Don’t know anything more than what is public. They told me they were renegotiating, and thought it would work out. Then I heard nothing for 2 months. Then learned this from the news like everyone else. I do think it’s a shame, as while I had my problems with the show, it had a fanbase who deserved better than a cancelation after the best season. I won’t miss being largely ignored; they wanted my name on it for legitimacy, but not to involve me in any meaningful way.

What Brandon Sanderson’s Comments Mean

Brandon Sanderson Understands Both Ends Of The Wheel Of Time Debate

Since The Wheel of Time’s cancellation was announced, fans of the title, whether it be the books or the show, seem to be split on whether this is for better or worse. The TV show was flawed from the start, and it’s understandable that it elicited such a range of responses from audiences. There are those who believed it to be a captivating interpretation of Robert Jordan’s books, and others who found it to be a disgrace to the late great author’s name.

Brandon Sanderson is diplomatic as always in saying he had problems with the show, and the fact that he was rarely consulted is likely a symptom of what book fans consider the primary issues in the adaptation. That said, he’s also notably empathetic to those who were passionate about the show, which, if the petition with 136,000 signatures is anything to show for it. The Wheel of Time’s third season was a vast improvement, indicated by critic and audience scores, and it’s disappointing fans won’t get to see any follow-up.

Our Take On Brandon Sanderson’s Comments

This Is Exactly Why Sanderson Doesn’t Want His Work Adapted Right Now

News surrounding adaptations of Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive has fluctuated in recent years, though Sanderson has revealed that he’s being picky about selecting a studio for his work. He once said, “Hollywood doesn’t know what to do with people who don’t need their money” (via Arcanum), referring to his position of power and the rarity of an author being able to turn down Hollywood offers. He’s spoken commonly about how the film industry is struggling with epic fantasy, and The Wheel of Time is the perfect example of why he’s not rushing to get shows made.