The Wheel of Time season 2: everything we know so far

When will The Wheel of Time season 2 be released? With rumors swirling around about an early 2023 launch, we had hoped to have an official date by now.

Unfortunately, that's not been the case. However, one of the best Prime Video shows is set to make its return this year, so we'll have a new season of The Wheel of Time to look forward to.

Speaking of which, you'll want to know more about the Prime Video fantasy series' next installment. In this guide, you'll find key details on its possible launch date, casting news, plot details, the show's future, and more.

Major spoilers follow for The Wheel of Time season 1. Potential spoilers for the series' next season and the books it's based on are also discussed.

The Wheel of Time season 2 release date: what we know

The Wheel of Time season 2 doesn't have a release date yet. The Telegraph India (opens in new tab) had suggested it'll land in Q1 2023 (thanks to Reddit (opens in new tab) for the catch) but, as we prepare to enter Q2 2023, that doesn't seem likely anymore.

Speaking to DragonMount (opens in new tab), a Wheel of Time YouTube fan channel, showrunner Rafe Judkins said of The Telegraph India's report: "There is some truth to it, in that I do believe that season 2 will be premiering in 2023, I think early. There is still a lot of work we’ve go to do on the show in post/VFX, all of that, so, expect it in 2023."

The Wheel of Time season 2 trailer

The Wheel of Time season 2's first teaser was released in October 2022. It opens with a fast-paced, still image-based montage of the first season's key moments. It's not until the 0:25 mark that the season 2 footage begins, but it looks suitably foreboding, action-packed, thrilling, and fantastical. Here's hoping we don't have to wait much longer for another trailer to arrive.

The teaser arrived three months after a behind-the-scenes look at the show's next installment was released, too:

The Wheel of Time season 2 cast

Here's the The Wheel of Time season 2's confirmed cast so far:

• Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred 
• Daniel Henney as Lan Mandragoran 
• Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor 
• Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al’Meara 
• Madeleine Madden as Egwene al’Vere 
• Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara 
• Dónal Finn as Mat Cauthon 
• Fares Fares as The Dark One 
• Johann Myers as Padan Fain
• Sophie Okonedo as Siuan Sanche

Dónal Finn (Cursed) has replaced Mat Cauthon as the actor responsible for portraying Barney Harris. In September 2021, we reported Harris was no longer part of the cast. No reason has been given for his departure. Meanwhile, of the series' supporting cast members that we haven't listed above, Kate Fleetword’s Liandrin and Kae Alexander’s Min Farshaw might be back. 

Why 'might' and not 'will'? The first season’s plot pulled from multiple books in Robert Jordan’s book series, while Judkins took some creative liberties with the story that pans out in the source material. If The Wheel of Time's second season diverges from the books, we may not see Liandrin or Min return, even though they have roles in The Great Hunt and The Dragon Reborn (i.e. the second and third novels). Alexandre Willaume's Thom Merrilin has confirmed he isn't returning (per The Mighty Dragon podcast (opens in new tab)).

Elsewhere, Amazon has revealed some of the new faces we'll see next time out:

Ceara Coveney – in her first major acting role – will portray a hugely significant character in Elayne Trakand. In the novels, Elayne is Queen of Andor and Cairhien, and one of the most powerful Aes Sedai.

Natasha O’Keeffe (Misfits, Filth) and Meera Syal (Paddington 2, Doctor Who) have also been cast in undisclosed roles. Rafe Judkins has teased that they’ll portray "two of the most important characters". Additionally, Ayoola Smart (Killing Eve) has been cast as Aviendha (opens in new tab), a Wise One from the Nine Valleys sept and one of Rand's love interests.

Potential season 2 cast spoilers follow.

Here's a rundown of other rumors and announcements relating to season 2's cast:

• Katie Yeung as Yasicca Celleach (opens in new tab), a member of the Aes Sedai and an ancient scholar
• Gary Beadle as Elyas Machera, a Warder who is a wolfbrother like Perrin
• Laia Costa as Magdelena (opens in new tab)
• Salle Salee as Elsa Treehill (opens in new tab)
• Julian Lewis Jones as Bayle Dormon (opens in new tab)
• Daniel Francis as High Lord Turak (opens in new tab)
• Elena Fokina as an unnamed sul'dam (opens in new tab)

Deadline (opens in new tab) has claimed Guy Roberts (Hanna), Arnas Fedaravicius (The Last Kingdom), and Gregg Chillingirian (A Discovery of Witches) will play supporting roles. Roberts will reportedly portray Uno Nomesta, a one-eyed soldier who served Lord Agelmar before the latter's death in the season 1 finale. Fedaravicius will play Masema, another of Agelmar's former charges. Finally, Chillingirian portrays Ingtar Shinowa, a warrior from war-torn lands.

WoTseries.com (opens in new tab) suggests Marie-France Alvarez (Paddington 2) will portray another Aes Sedai called Celestin. Melissa James (Coronation Street) and Jessica Boone (Das Boot) have also apparently been hired, according to WoTseries.com (opens in new tab). British-born New Zealand actor Rima Te Wiata (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) is rumored to be playing Sheriam Bayanar, another Aes Sedai and the so-called Mistress of Novices (via WoTseries.com (opens in new tab)). The same WoTseries.com (opens in new tab) website suggests Ken Bradshaw (Eastenders, Wire in the Blood) will play Asan Sandair, a city guard who crosses paths with Rand.

Lastly on theWoTseries.com front, the site claims Jay Duffy (opens in new tab) (Derry Girls), Hayley Mills (opens in new tab) (The Parent Trap), Darragh O'Toole (opens in new tab) (Peaky Blinders) and Lubna Kerr (opens in new tab) (Moondogs) have signed on. Vincent Kerschbaum (Brothers of War) and Lily Banda (Deep State) have reportedly been cast as well (per WoTseries.com (opens in new tab)).

In an interview with The Press and Journal (opens in new tab), Stewart Kenneth Moore (Carnival Row) confirmed he has a bit-part role. Moore refused to reveal his character's identity, but hinted that he'll turn up in episode 5 for a "fairly memorable scene."

Finally, The Witcher fansite Redandian Intelligence (opens in new tab) claims four other actors have been joined the party, including Laura Crowhurst (The Last Bus) and newcomer Natasha J. Murley. Game of Thrones' Will Tudor will also allegedly play Barthanes Damodred, a relative of Moiraine's, while Haruka Kuroda (Killing Eve) is set to portray one of Min Farshaw's aunts.

The Wheel of Time season 2 plot

Spoilers follow for The Wheel of Time season 1.

We don't know much about The Wheel of Time season 2's story. However, per Prime Video's Fanology Twitter account, it'll deal with theme of loneliness (opens in new tab). That's not surprising, given Amazon has pulled a Fellowship of the Ring-style move and broken up our merry band of heroes. Meanwhile, Daniel Henney told New York Comic-Con attendees that there'll be more individual storylines in season 2 (opens in new tab).

There are also lots of plot threads that need to be picked up or resolved.

After temporarily defeating The Dark One, Rand – aka the Dragon Reborn – is continuing his journey alone. The Dragon Reborn is a prophesied, all-powerful channeler of the One Power fated to save or destroy the world. Rand considers himself dangerous to everyone, so he asks Moiraine to tell his friends that he perished in battle against The Dark One so they don’t come looking for him. Josha Stradowski, who plays Rand, says the character’s season 2 arc will be built around redefining his identity (via The Wrap (opens in new tab)).

As for Moiraine, The Dark One destroyed her connection to the Source, which is where Aes Sedai draw the One Power from. Unable to channel her powers, Moiraine and Lan’s relationship is set to change. The duo hardly feature in The Wheel of Time’s second book, but Judkins told CBR.com (opens in new tab) their upcoming arcs will comprise wholly original content created specifically for the TV adaptation, as "you can't sideline Rosamund Pike and Daniel Henney in a season of television". Additionally, Pike revealed (per Entertainment Weekly (opens in new tab)) that Moiraine will return to her home city of Cairhien in The Wheel of Time season 2.

The season 1 finale also teased the arrival of the Seanchan – a villainous, seafaring empire that has ambitions on conquering The Wheel of Time’s main continent. Asked by Collider (opens in new tab) how they’ll make a *ahem* splash, Judkins said: "Everything's following this traditional fantasy format coming out of the first book. In the second book, the Seanchan come out of nowhere and slap our characters, so we really wanted to have them function the same way in the show. We get this nod to them at the end of season 1 but, in season 2, the Seanchan arrive and they affect the story."

Elaborating on their role, Judkins told New York Comic-Con 2021 attendees (via SyFy.com (opens in new tab)): "The Seanchan come in and sideswipe every story in the show. They sideswipe the show as much as they do the books and it's a really cool storytelling device that Robert Jordan built and I think it's so special and I've been so excited to bring it to the screen."

There are many other branching narratives and subplots that the second season needs to circle back to. Judkins confirmed to Nerdist (opens in new tab) that "we'll certainly see" more of the backstory of Lews Therin, aka the first Dragon, as season 2 and the overall series progresses. Judkins also teased the potential introduction of Gawyn and Faile, who are important characters in Egwene and Perrin’s stories, and the possibility of Rand and Min interacting more (per CBR (opens in new tab)). As for Mat, Judkins revealed he's heading for the White Tower – the Aes Sedai’s stronghold – in the season 1 finale.

We’re also expecting to learn more about Perrin’s wolfbrother powers and hope our heroes will get the Horn of Valere – a key item in the final battle with The Dark One – back after Padan Fain stole it in the season 1 finale. The love triangle between Moiraine, Lan, and Nynaeve is also set to be explored in more detail (via Inverse (opens in new tab)).

Speaking about The Wheel of Time season 2’s overall theme, Judkins told EW the show’s next entry will "peel back the surface and try to understand what balance between dark and light they’re trying to find within themselves."

The Wheel of Time’s next entry will also cover plot elements from multiple novels, Judkins telling EW: "[Audiences] will see that some characters are diving more into their book two story in season 2, and some of them are diving more into their book three story. We have a big round-up point at the end of season 2 that reconnects everything and pushes us off in a new direction where we've completed all the stories we need to get through."

Additionally, we can expect blood – and lots of it, according to Daniel Henney (via ContentMode (opens in new tab)). Judkins also told TVLine (opens in new tab): "More characters will die in the show than in the books, because we cannot carry a cast of 2,000 actors for seven seasons!" Prepare for your favorite characters to potentially perish at some point, then.

Finally, Judkins took to Twitter to answer fans' season 2 questions (opens in new tab) during some post-production downtime. One key detail confirms the introduction of the Forsaken, i.e. channelers who serve the side of Shadow in the War of Power. Fans can expect to see new locations, such as Cairhien, Tear, and Falme in The Wheel of Time season 2, too.

Will The Wheel of Time get more seasons?

The Wheel of Time season 2 won't be the final entry in this live-action adaptation, with Amazon renewing it for a third season (opens in new tab).

Interestingly, The Shadow Rising, which season 3 will be based on, is the fourth book in Jordan's epic fantasy book series. Given The Wheel of Time season 2 will adapt books one through three, it makes sense that the series' third season will pick things up with book four.

As for future seasons, much will depend on audience interest and if Amazon feels it can fund its two big fantasy properties in The Wheel of Time and The Rings of Power. The latter's premiere was the biggest Prime Video launch of all-time so, if only one show is continually greenlit, it's likely to be its Lord of the Rings show, which is already returning for The Rings of Power season 2.

That said, we'd still expect Amazon to renew The Wheel of Time for more seasons. Judkins has eight seasons mapped out, so it would be silly for Amazon to cancel the series midway through its run (if a fourth season is also greenlit). Here's hoping, then, that The Wheel of Time can keep rolling on until it reaches its end point.

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