Recently, Amazon’s Wheel of Time just released news of five more cast members for the epic fantasy series coming to Amazon. For fans of the books, this is exciting news. Here is my opinion of the five new cast members added to the ever growing Wheel of Time cast.

The Wheel of Time book series created by Robert Jordan is easily one of the most well loved fantasy series out there. This is mainly due to the dynamic and unforgettable characters we meet along the way. I recently reviewed the casting of the main cast of Emond’s Fielders, Moiraine and Lan as seen in this article.

Well fans are excited to learn they have announced the cast for five more characters: Tam Al’Thor, Thom Merrilin, Padan Fain, Loial, and Logain Ablar. Let’s start with our one Emond’s Fielder, Tam Al’Thor.

Tam Al’Thor

Tam Al’ Thor is the main protagonist’s adoptive father. He is a stoic and honorable man who saved a child from the cold in the midst of a war and raised that child as his son. Tam is a steadfast and loving father that raised Rand into a strong young man. So it is safe to say his character, though having more of a background role, is very important.

Tam Al’ Thor will be played by the very impressive Michael McElhatton as seen below:

Michael McElhatton is a seasoned actor who has been in several roles, but his most well known role is the reviled Roose Bolton from Game of Thrones. What I like about this actor is how versatile he is. His Roose Bolton was calculating and cold and he did a magnificent job with this character. He has also had a role in the massive television hit Chernobyl and did the voice for Gaius Van Baelsar in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers. When I saw he was cast as Tam, I was immediately excited as I knew of the actor. Check out his impressive IMDB page. I can’t wait to see what he will make of Tam.

Thom Merrilin

Where would the story be without our favorite Gleeman, Thom Merrilin? Thom is a well loved and very intriguing character that fans have loved throughout the series. He is particularly fond and friendly towards the Emond’s Fielders. He is, also, particularly protective of Rand especially when he finds out about Rand’s abilities. In many ways, he is a wise father/grandfather figure to the three main characters. So the person who plays him has big shoes to fill.

Well recently, it was announced that Alexandre Willaume will be playing the well loved Thom Merillin as seen below:

Alexandre definitely has the hardened features that shows a man that has been through quite an interesting life. He is a bit younger than I imagined him to be, but considering how much physical combat Thom can get into and that he is an important character throughout the entire series, a younger actor may not be such a bad idea. But what is really important is does he have the acting chops for this role? The answer is yes. He has quite an impressive and diverse resume of television and movie roles. He is most well known for Tomb Raider (2018), The Last Kingdom (2015-2017), and Below the Surface (2017-2019). Judging by how diverse this actor is, I think he will be able to bring the very intricate Thom Merrilin to life.

Loial

The lovable and loyal Loial comes in next. Before Hodor from Game of Thrones stole our hearts, there was Loial. The Wheel of Time world would be so much dimmer without this gentle giant. Loial is an Ogier, which is a very gentle race of builders and scholars, but when angered they can be dangerous. He is another character that supports and follows the main trio on their journey and has become a well loved and cherished character in the fandom.

Loial will be played by Hammed Animashaun as seen below:

Now Hammed is a relatively newer actor much like the Emond’s Fielders, but he does have some really well known works on his resume most notably Black Mirror and National Theatre Live: Threepenny Opera. I’m excited to see Loial being brought to life, and I’m excited to see what Hammed Animashaun can do.

Padan Fain

Padan Fain is such a loathsome villain in the book series and is much like Gollum. He is twisted by darkness and his obsession with the trio is unnerving. He is the type of villain that is a little creepy and unsettling. He doesn’t start off as such which makes his spiral into madness interesting. He is not a major character, but he is a character that makes a lasting impression on readers.

Padan Fain will be played by Johann Myers as seen below:

Johann Myers also has a very diverse career in both acting and directing. From Black Hawk Down to The Bank Job to Lost City of Z, he has been in diverse movies and television shows. Though not well known, he has the acting chops to pull off this complex character. I can’t wait to see what he does and if Padan Fain’s role is explored more in the television series.

Logain Albar

And last but certainly not least, we have Logain Ablar. Logain has a small, but critical role in the books. He too is in the books from book 1 and until the end. Logain is a Channeler like Rand and is declared to be a false Dragon. He is handsome and charismatic, someone who is a natural born leader. Though his role is not big, his actions make massive ripples in the story. He is enigmatic and oftentimes one is never certain which side he will fall on, the side of light or the side of darkness, throughout the story. This makes him quite a dynamic character.

Logain Ablar will be played by Alvaro Morte as seen below:

I like this choice in actor. He definitely has the dark handsome looks of Logain and, most importantly, he has a lot of experience in television. He is most known for his roles in Money Heist (2017), Mirage (2018), and Wings (2013), but he has several acting credits in television. I look forward to see him bring Logain to life.

And that is it for the new update of actors. I am excited to see more and more of the cast as the Wheel of Time series becomes more of a reality. I can’t wait to see who they will cast for characters like Elayne, Min, Gawyn, Galad and so much more. Hopefully fans will known soon and I will be back with another update!