Brandon Sanderson Furious Over 'The Wheel of Time' Cancellation: "It's a Shame"
Brandon Sanderson, who finished The Wheel of Time after Robert Jordan's death, rarely gives negative comments. However, the show's cancellation forced him to speak out harshly. Here's what the writer had to say.
One of the most high-profile show cancellations in 2025 was The Wheel of Time, which was axed after its third season – right when the series was starting to find its footing.
The creators planned to film all 14 books in the main series and the prequel, New Spring. However, due to low viewership ratings, these plans were scrapped.
Brandon Sanderson's Honest Reaction on 'The Wheel of Time' Cancellation
Fans who were already anticipating the fourth season had a strong reaction to the news. They were not the only ones unhappy about it, though. As it turns out, Brandon Sanderson is also disappointed.
It was Brandon Sanderson who was chosen by Robert Jordan's widow, Harriet McDougal, to finish the book series based on Jordan's drafts.
In a YouTube comment, Sanderson answered a fan's question about the cancellation of The Wheel of Time:
“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.”
Fans have noted that Brandon Sanderson is not one to make harsh remarks, so this comment speaks volumes about how he feels regarding Amazon's decisions.
'The Wheel of Time' Under-Experienced Writers Was One of the Main Reasons It Failed
In this article, we examine the reasons for The Wheel of Time's failure. One significant reason was that the studio hired under-experienced writers with only one or two TV credits.
Some fans believe that the industry itself is the problem. Redditor HenryDorsettCase47 wrote:
“Writing jobs in Hollywood are a finite thing. People jump at those opportunities regardless of how they feel about the source material. That's why we end up with all of these showrunners who feel zero loyalty to the IP or, occasionally, actively dislike it.”
There Was No Better Person to Guide 'The Wheel of Time' Creators Than Brandon Sanderson
Harriet McDougal chose Brandon Sanderson to finish The Wheel of Time because of his passion for the series. She was impressed by the heartfelt farewell letter he posted on his website after Jordan's death and knew he would treat her late husband's work with respect.
In Amazon's The Wheel of Time, the lack of this kind of person is very noticeable – someone passionate about the story and familiar with all the details who could direct the story in the right direction.
However, the show's creators decided not to consult Sanderson. As he himself said, "It's a shame."
