Rosamund Pike has confirmed thatThe Wheel of Timeseason 3 will rearrange a storyline from Robert Jordan’s books, which will delay Rand al’Thor’s (Josha Stradowski) journey to the Stone of Tear. The seriesfollows Moiraine (Pike), a member of a magical organization, who takes five individuals on a journey, in hopes that one of them might be the reincarnation of a powerful prophecy called the Dragon.The Wheel of Timeseason 3isset to premiere on Jun 10, 2025.
During an interview withRadioTimes.com, Pike explained that instead of followingThe Dragon Reborn’s sequence,the series will send Rand into the Aiel Waste before retrieving Callandorfrom the Stone of Tear. This decision stems from the need to externalize Rand’s internal struggles for television and display his discovery of identity before acquiring the legendary sa’angreal. The Stone of Tear remains part of the narrative, but its placement has been adjusted to reflect Rand’s journey to television. Check out Pike’s comments below:
“We haven’t neglected the Stone of Tear, we’ve just rearranged the order. There’ll be debate about it, but instead of Rand, as you would expect, his next point on his journey would be to go and get Callandor from the Stone of Tear, we are going into the Aiel Waste first, because he needs to discover who he is. Obviously in the novels, there’s loads of opportunity for the internal battles of Rand, coming to terms with being the Dragon Reborn - but we need to make that active. We can’t do subjective thinking on film. So we need him to go and discover who he is by going to the land of where he comes from. So we’re going to the Aiel Waste first and I hope you’ll understand and appreciate why.”
What This Means For The Wheel Of Time Season 3
Season 3 Will Prioritize Rand’s Character Development
AdaptingThe Wheel of Timerequires structural changes due to the original book series' length, which includes fifteen books.Robert Jordan’sThe Wheel of Timebooksfeaturemultiple perspectives and detailed character development, making direct translation to the small screen no small feat.However, it seems that season 3 will continue to adapt events fromThe Dragon Rebornwhile incorporating material from later books.
The Stone of Tear is a major set piece, and shifting its introduction allows for a more focused execution of Rand’s development and the piece later on.
Additionally, the Aiel Waste plays a crucial role in Rand’s development, as it connects him to his ancestral origins. InThe Shadow Rising, Rand learns about his heritage and undergoes trials that solidify his role as the Dragon Reborn. The decision to introduce this element earlier suggests therewill be a continued emphasis on world-building and character growth in season 3.
The Wheel Of Time: The Show’s 10 Most Powerful Characters, Ranked
Book fans were probably surprised by the use of the One Power in the show, and the relative power levels of each character have definitely changed.
Furthermore, production constraints also factor into the series' structural changes. Filming large-scale battle sequences and maintaining visual effects quality requires strategic planning, and naturally, some details will need to be cut to execute this.The Stone of Tear is a major set piece, and shifting its introduction allows for a more focused executionof Rand’s development and the piece later on.
Our Take On The Wheel Of Time Season 3
Rand First, Stone Of Tear Later
Prioritizing Rand’s self-discovery before the Stone of Tear is a logical adaptation choice givenThe Wheel of Time’sexpansive lore. Television requires externalizing internal struggles, and shifting events allow the show to explore Rand’s journey without losing momentum. If executed well, this changecould enhanceThe Wheel of Time’spacing while preserving the core themes of the series.
