The Wheel of Time season 3 finally has a release date, and it’s avoiding a problem that plagued Amazon’s other hit fantasy series for two seasons in a row. Several networks and streamers are competing within the fantasy genre, as many of them attempted to introduce the “next Game of Thrones“ after the HBO series ended. Amazon has two major fantasy titles on its roster, both based on prolific works within the genre. The Wheel of Time and The Rings of Power may not adapt those works perfectly, but they’re some of the biggest ongoing fantasy shows as of 2024.
And it seems The Wheel of Time season 3 is learning from The Rings of Power‘s release strategy, which has repeated the same mistake twice now. Given that The Wheel of Time season 2’s adaptation of the source material has been criticized, it’s going to need as much help as it can get to bounce back in season 3. This means avoiding a release timeline that overlaps with heavy competition and risks further alienating viewers. Fortunately, things look hopeful on that front.
The Wheel Of Time Season 3’s Release Doesn’t Overlap With Other Big Fantasy Premieres
The Show’s March 2025 Return Could Work In Its Favor
The Wheel of Time season 3 trailer offers hope for one of the show’s best outings yet, and it’s confirmed that the series will return on March 13, 2025. While it’s impossible to choose a premiere date too far removed from other returning fantasy shows, The Wheel of Time does a better job of this than The Rings of Power. Currently, season 3 of the Amazon series doesn’t overlap with any major fantasy premieres, which means it will be the main topic of discussion early next year. This could help it stand out and avoid harsh comparisons to its competitors.
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The fact that it’s coming back so early in the year could also work in its favor, as it will be among the first major fantasy shows to debut in 2025. This means it will set the bar for what comes after, rather than being expected to live up to other popular releases. February’s The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep will probably be the closest fantasy title to Wheel of Time season 3’s premiere, and the fact that it’s animated and a movie will make it too different from the Amazon show to matter much.
The Wheel Of Time Is Avoiding A Mistake That Hurt Both Seasons Of The Rings Of Power
The Lord Of The Rings Series Keeps Premiering Close To House Of The Dragon
By setting a premiere date that’s at least a few months removed from other huge fantasy releases, The Wheel of Time is avoiding a mistake that plagued both seasons of The Rings of Power. Amazon’s Lord of the Rings show debuted on September 1, 2022, not even two weeks after The House of the Dragon season 1. With both series serving as prequels to major fantasy properties, it was inevitable they’d be compared to one another. And although they’re vastly different in terms of tone and plot, House of the Dragon season 1 came out on top reception-wise.
The Rings of Power season 2 came out on the heels of House of the Dragon season 2’s ending.
This didn’t stop Amazon from repeating the same mistake with The Rings of Power season 2, even if the streamer put a little more distance between the two series’ sophomore seasons. Still, The Rings of Power season 2 came out on the heels of House of the Dragon season 2’s ending, with its first three episodes dropping on Prime Video a little less than three weeks after HOTD‘s finale aired. Needless to say, there were more comparisons between the two shows, even though they really didn’t warrant them. The Wheel of Time won’t need to worry about this while it’s on.
Amazon Still Has Major Competition In The Fantasy Genre In 2025
It Will Still Be Up Against Shows Like The Hedge Knight & The Witcher
The Wheel of Time season 3 shouldn’t face much competition in the fantasy genre in March, unless shows like Percy Jackson or Stranger Things set their next outings for then — and with no trailers or updates as of December, that seems unlikely. The Amazon series will still be up against fantasy titles coming out later in the year though, as two big ones have already scheduled their runs: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight and The Witcher season 4.
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HBO’s new Game of Thrones prequel has a summer 2025 release window, which should place it at least two months after The Wheel of Time season 3. The Witcher’s next chapter has no set release date, but it’s expected to hit Netflix during the latter half of 2025. It’s unlikely the streamer would schedule it too close to the anime movie, so it will probably be several months removed from The Wheel of Time season 3 as well. This buys the Amazon show more time than The Rings of Power to dominate the conversation in the fantasy TV space.
Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan’s expansive fantasy series is brought to life in The Wheel of Time, a fantasy tv series created for Amazon Prime Video. The series follows a woman named Moiraine, a member of the all-female Aes Sedai group who can utilize a great power. Following an attack on a local village, Moiraine heads there to find a villager that may be the reincarnation of an all-powerful dragon that will either save or destroy the world.
- Release Date
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November 19, 2021
- Franchise(s)
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The Wheel of Time
- Seasons
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3
- Writers
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Rafe Judkins
, Robert Jordan
, Michael Clarkson
, Paul Clarkson
, Celine Song - Directors
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Sanaa Hamri
, Ciaran Donnelly
, Thomas Napper - Showrunner
-
Rafe Judkins
