Amazon cancels Wheel of Time television adaptation after three seasons

Amazon has cancelled its fantasy television series The Wheel of Time after three seasons. The announcement came on a Friday, following a period of silence after the third season ended. The show was based on Robert Jordan's book series, which author Brandon Sanderson later finished. Showrunner Rafe Judkins led the production, which required a large cast, detailed costumes, visual effects, and filming in various locations. Despite this investment, the show never became a mainstream hit with large audiences. At least one critic said the third season was actually the best, both as an adaptation and as a television series on its own terms. The cancellation shows how difficult it is for expensive fantasy productions to survive without very high viewing numbers.