Wheel of Time is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. It has the potential of being an even bigger television series than Game of Thrones. With magic, intense battle sequences, intrigue and love stories, Wheel of Time has captivated the world for years. At the core of the story are the Emond’s Field five with the super core being the trio Rand Al’Thor, Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara. Egwene Al’Vere and Nynaeve Al’Meara round out the Emond’s Fielders and have important roles to play though not as critical as the trio. So casting for the Emond’s field five is extremely important as they are going to carry the television series.

For those who do not know the basics about the Wheel of Time, essentially the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is a cyclical story. I will try my best to give a very pared down summary to a very complex story. At the beginning of time the Creator put the Dark One in a cage. Every age, the Dark One tries to get free of his prison. As his powers and allies grow, a savior, who is known by the name of the Dragon, is born. This man can wield magical power that is strong enough to put the Dark One back in his prison and essentially stop the apocalypse. In every age, the Dragon stops the Dark One from escaping, and the cycle begins again with a new age. In one age, Lews Therin, the Dragon, and his men go to put the Dark One back in his cage. In the process though, as one last counterstrike, the Dark One taints the magic of all male magic users. Any man who now uses magic will be affected by the corruption in their magic and drive them insane while doing extreme damage to all the world around them. This causes the breaking of the world.

The series begins hundreds if not thousands of years later (the length of an age varies). Prophecies have been circling that the Dragon will be reborn soon suggesting that the world is drawing closer to its end times. Those who can wield magic are known as the Aes Sedai. With women being the only ones who can safely wield magic, one Aes Sedai, Moiraine Damodred, and her Warder A’Lan Mandragoran, believe they have may just have narrowed down the Dragon to three young men from a small and isolated sheep herder village. The journey of Moiraine and the three young men is just beginning.

Now I know that is quite a lengthy explanation, but this goes to show just how complex and vast this story is. This story is one epic roller coaster. So who are our main cast for Amazon’s adaptation? Let’s start with Moiraine Damodred and her Warder A’Lan Mandragoran.

Moiraine Damodred is an Aes Sedai of the blue ajah. She is a determined woman who can be fierce as well as elegant and diplomatic. She is a Cairhienin noble, but forsook the Sun Throne to be an Aes Sedai. She and her friend Siuan come across the research into finding the next Dragon Reborn, which is a mission she takes on herself. Moiraine’s character is extremely important to the story especially in the first parts. Season 1 will more than likely have a heavy focus on her character and her back story. So it is important to have a very versatile actress who has a commanding presence, but also can show a wide range of emotion.

Luckily for us fans, Moiraine will be played by the wonderful actress Rosemund Pike as seen below:

Rosemund Pike has been in several notable projects in the realm of movies and television. She was the lead in Gone Girl, Jane Bennet in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightly, and has been in several other movies and television series . What I like about her is just how versatile she is in her acting. She can play a scientist in Doom and the sweet Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. I think she has the look, and gravitas of Moiraine. She is a fantastic pick for this character.

Al’Lan Mandragoran

Al’Lan Mandragoran or better known as Lan is Moiraine’s Warder. Where Moiraine fights with magic, Lan protects her with his sword. He is bonded to her as Warder and Aes Sedai can do, and, no, this is not a romantic bond. The bond gives Lan extra healing protections while he protects her. Lan is the last of the royal bloodline of the Malkieri and his back story is very sad. He is stoic, strong, fair minded, and very well versed in the art of warcraft and weaponry. He hates anything to do with the Dark One as it is the Dark One’s agents and the blight that destroyed his family and took his kingdom from him. Lan is steadfast and loyal to Moiraine. He would go to hell and back again for her. His character does not say much, but he has a strong presence and physicality to him.

Lan will be played by Daniel Henney as seen below:

Now, I actually like this pick for Lan. I think this actor definitely has Lan’s strong features, and he has the build and height of Lan. He also has quite a solid acting career under his belt. He has been in such movies as X-men Origins: Wolverine, Shanghai Calling and The Last Stand. He is more notable in the television arena and is very popular in Korean dramas like Spring Waltz and My Lovely Sam Soon as well as American shows like Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Criminal Minds and Hawaii 5-0. So he has played diverse roles and has a television presence. I think this is another fabulous pick!

Now let’s get into the characters that really move and shake this story: the Emond Fielders. Let’s start with our main protagonist Rand Al’ Thor.

RAND AL’ THOR

Rand is at the center of everything as he is the Dragon Reborn. He is said to be a tall, lean young man. His fair skin, red hair and green eyes make him stand out among the other members of his village as they tend to be shorter and darker featured. This is important because this helps Moiraine pick him out as one of the three boys who may be the dragon. In Rand’s case, she is correct. Rand has the features of an Aiel man, who are fierce warriors far from Emond’s Field, whose feats on the battle field create stories of awe and fear.

As for Rand’s character, his development and the chaos his character has to endure is intense. He as the weight of the world on his shoulders and he has to deal not going insane from using magic due to the taint as well as learning who he can and can not trust. He goes from a simple sheep herder to a king who rules a vast majority of the world and is the only one to stand against the Dark One. So it is critical that his role be filled by a strong yet versatile actor.

Rand Al’ Thor will be played by Joshua Stradowski as seen below:

Joshua is an upcoming dutch actor and model. He has been in a few television series and shorts most notably the up and coming television series called High Flyers and the television movie Just Friends. Now I don’t know too much about his acting as I have not seen any of his works, but he does fit the physical description of Rand with gray eyes and his hair can easily be dyed red.

I like the idea of a fresh face actor taking on this large role. Fresh faced actors like Emilia Clarke (Daenerys from Game of Thrones), Sophie Turner ( Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones), and Kit Harrington (Jon Snow from Game of Thrones) are prime examples of new actors that have really taken their characters to another level. They did a fantastic job. So I am more open to the idea of a newer actor taking on the role of the main character. It won’t be an easy feat, but I think it can be done. I’m willing to have a little faith that Joshua will be able to handle such a momentous character.

Now let’s get into the rest of the Emond’s Fielders. Next, let’s look into Matrim Cauthon.

MATRIM CAUTHON

Matrim Cauthon has always been a plucky fan favorite. He’s a mischievous prankster who has a real head for tactics and war strategy. Once one of the three boys Moiraine considered being the Dragon Reborn, Matrim becomes one of Rand’s Generals and is the Marshal-General of the Band of the Red Hand. Matrim’s journey to General is complex as he has ups and downs with his character development as Rand and Perrin does.

So who will be playing our lovable prankster? Well that role has been given to Barney Harris as seen below:

Barney is a relatively fresh face to the acting scene. He has been in movies like Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk and Billionaire Boy’s Club. Now I think that Barney fits the description of his character very well. The moment I saw his picture, I was like “Yep! That’s Matrim!” I’m excited to see what he does with this very lovable rascal.

PERRIN AYBARA

Now where would we be in our trio without the steady minded and gentle giant named Perrin Aybara? Perrin is a dark haired, stocky, very muscular young man due to his years as being a Blacksmith’s apprentice. But his size makes him more cautious as to not unduly hurt anyone. Perrin has his own special journey and development that he goes on as he grapples with his ability to connect and speak to wolves. He too is one of the three boys thought could be the Dragon Reborn which puts a huge bullseye on his back. Perrin becomes one of Rand’s General much further down the line and he sticks by Rand’s side loyally as does Matrim.

Perrin Aybara will be played by Marcus Rutherford as seen below:

Now some people are not happy with this choice. I was on the fence until I saw the trailer of movie named Obey which he is the lead in and that sold me. Check out the trailer below:

I think that this actor can convey humble strength and gentleness as well as show physical strength. I think the only thing that may cause some fans concern is that he is not, physically, big enough to be Perrin as Perrin is massive in the books, but, in my opinion, that can easily be fixed with clothes or the actor could bulk up. I think the most important thing is how well he portrays the character we know and love and I think this role is in the right hands.

NYNAEVE AL’MEARA

Up next is our favorite braid puller and powerful Aes Sedai Nynaeve Al’Meara. Nynaeve is also born and raised in Emond’s Field like Rand, Perrin, Matrim and Egwene. When the story begins she is not yet an Aes Sedai, but the village Wisdom. Wisdoms in villages are often women who have special powers. Most do not know their Aes Sedai as Nynaeve doesn’t know. Her journey becomes enmeshed with Rand’s after Rand, Perrin, Matrim and Egwene all leave with Moiraine and Lan in the dead of night to escape the forces of the Dark One. Being the village Wisdom, Nynaeve can’t accept this and tracks them down to bring the younger Emond’s Fielders back. Nynaeve is a pretty young woman with long hair often braided which she yanks on when she is frustrated. She is stubborn, determined, fearless, forthright and becomes one of the most powerful Aes Sedai in this age. Her love story with Lan is also a fan favorite as well.

Nynaeve Al’Meara will be played by Zoe Robins as seen below:

Zoe Robins is an actress from New Zealand who is known for her roles in Power Rangers Ninja Steel and Shannara Chronicles. Almost all of her experience is in television which I think is a good thing. I think she has the look of Nynaeve as well as the steel of her. In fact while looking up the actress, I was reminded of a really cool mad max sort of character that she played in Shannara Chronicles. Check out this clip of her in Shannara Chronicles:

I think Zoe will do a fantastic job with Nynaeve. She already has experience with high fantasy adaptations of well loved fantasy series.

EGWENE AL’VERE

Egwene Al’Vere is one of the main female protagonist who starts out as Rand’s love interest, but becomes just a friend. She also becomes one of the most powerful Aes Sedai of their age along with Nynaeve. Egwene is stubborn though not to the degree as Nynaeve and she has a similar steel in her as does Nynaeve which is a characteristic of Emond’s Field.

Egwene Al’Vere will be played by Madeleine Madden as seen below:

Now this choice I was really on the fence about. She does not fit fully Egwene’s description as I saw her in my mind. Luckily for us, Madeleine has been in many television shows and movies. She is known for Picnic at Hanging Rock, Tidelands, and Dora and the Lost City of Gold. She has the acting chops for this role.

Now she was one of the few actors on this list that I have seen previously in something else and remembered. I actually remember her in the Australian television show Tidelands and she did an excellent job being an antagonistic character who got on your nerves. She delivered a tricky character well. So though I was on the fence, I am fully ready to give my trust in this actress in bringing Egwene to life.

Overall, I am excited to see the Wheel of Time series come to life as a television show. I like the casting so far. I am interested to see who else they cast for roles like Elayne, Tam Al’ Thor, or Thom Merrilin. Hopefully, we will find out soon as they started filming. 2020 looks to be an exciting year for us fantasy fans!