EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Prime Video’s series adaptation of Robert Jordan’s best-selling The Wheel Of Time fantasy novels has come out of the gate strong.
“We can firmly say that Wheel of Time was the most watched series premiere of the year and one of the Top 5 series launches of all time for Prime Video,” Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke told Deadline about the debut, acknowledging that the company — like most streamers — “try to figure out how transparent we are going to be in the future” with ratings.
Prime Video is among the SVOD platforms that do not disclose viewership data but Salke revealed that “there were tens and tens of millions of streams” for The Wheel Of Time in the first three days of its release, with the US, India, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany as the top countries.
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In an encouraging sign for The Wheel Of Time‘s longevity, the series’ first three episode made available at launch also logged some of the highest completion rates on the service ever, Salke added. Additionally, according to third party TV-I, The Wheel of Time was the #1 series on social across all releases last weekend and is the biggest Amazon Original series on social this year.
With its solid Nov. 19 debut, The Wheel of Time, starring Rosamund Pike, is living up to its strong pre-launch tracking. Parrot Analytics earlier this month released data showing The Wheel Of Time outpacing other recent new fantasy series, including Netflix’s hit The Witcher, in global pre-release demand, projecting that The Wheel of Time could have Prime Video’s biggest opening since the Season 2 premieres of The Boys in October 2020 and Indian original Mirzapur in November 2020. [Both The Wheel of Time and The Boys come from Sony Pictures Television, which co-produces them with Amazon Studios.]
Salke would not disclose further viewership information about The Wheel Of Time premiere but said that “it’s definitely trending to exceed our expectations which were high.”
Between Emmy-nominated comic book adaptation The Boys’ critical and commercial success, The Wheel Of Time‘s promising debut and the anticipated launch of The Lord of Rings, genre has emerged as a key programming area for the streamer and a continuing development focus.
One of the company’s newest hopefuls in the arena is Mass Effect. Amazon Studios is nearing a deal to develop a series based on the best-selling sci-fi video game franchise from Electronic Arts.
“You will see us continuing to invest in fantasy genre of all kinds, we have a genre-focused team on the ground in Studios who work tirelessly with our creative partners on those slates, and you can look forward to more,” Salke said.
The Wheel Of Time‘s successful launch, for which Salke also gave credit to Amazon Studios’ marketing and publicity teams, comes after a challenging year for Prime Video — and for virtually any linear and streaming networks whose content pipelines were affected by the coronavirus pandemic. With production on many of its series delayed, including Emmy-winning comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon relied on movie acquisitions to keep circulation on the service and used the opportunity to cultivate new audiences with a mix of original series and movies.
“As we looked at the challenges that Covid presented with our slate, it was really important that we were creating big cultural moments globally around content,” Salke said. “We went out at the end of 2020 with Borat, and through 2021 increasing that momentum with our slate of originals. I’m so happy that we could get a slate of material underway with Coming to America, Without Remorse, Sylvie’s Love, One Night In Miami, Them: Covenant and Underground Railroad which we were able to schedule strategically within Covid to drive a new audience to Prime Video. We made significant improvements in making Black customers all over the world feel like Prime Video was a home for them which we are exceptionally proud of.”
While movies like these as well as The Tomorrow War and Cinderella “kept our customers very much engaged on the service,” “I think we’ve all been looking forward to Wheel Of Time being the next big tentpole that we could get up on the service while we are still in this pandemic,” Salke said. “It is a bit of the door opening to the robust content slate that was delayed for so many different reasons all coming together in 2022 and 23.”
That includes the sprawling The Lord of the Rings, slated to premiere on Sept. 2, 2022. Amazon recently announced that production on Season 2 of the J.R.R. Tolkien series adaptation will be moving to the UK from New Zealand where Season 1 was filmed.
Salke had no updates on locations and production start date for Season 2 but said this about LOTR:
“All systems are go on that show, it looks absolutely incredible and we can’t wait to launch it to the world. We know our global audience is hungry for elevated fantasy and shows based on beloved IP; we see that with Wheel of Time, and Lord of the Rings will be the centerpiece of our year.”
A lot has been written about comments attributed to Amazon’s Jeff Bezos in fall 2017 about a Prime Video programming shift to big, tentpole series and find the new Game Of Thrones. It resulted in a slew of high-profile genre projects being put in development by the streamer around that time, including The Lord Of the Rings, The Boys and The Wheel of Time.
Salke remembered meeting with The Wheel Of Time creator Rafe Judkins and the Sony TV executives after she joined Amazon Studios in early 2018.
“It was so amazing to hear Rafe’s personal connection to it,” Salke recalled. “His mother, during a coming-of-age, challenging time for him, bonded with him over this book. It was this really important piece of storytelling that really informed him and his relationships with his family in a lot of ways. Clearly I knew – which we always look for — how passionate was he about this material, how well did he know it, and how much affection and love did he have for it. We greenlit [the series] off that meeting, and I wasn’t worried about it; I felt we were in really great hands with him on this beloved, huge property.”
While Salke acknowledges that, “as always with a beloved IP, you could get some criticism about not staying exactly true to people’s vision of what the series should look like as it comes to life, we are in touch with the core fans of the novels and we know the majority of them are really excited and happy,” she said.
The Wheel of Time was renewed for a second season in May, months ahead of its series premiere. Production on Season 2 began in Prague, Czech Republic in July, and the series is about halfway through principal photography on the new season.
“You should expect more of the high quality addictive storytelling that stays true to the original IP but also brings new original ideas and storylines,” Salke said about Season 2.
It is too early to discuss a potential early Season 3 renewal but it is a real possibility.
“Let’s get a little time under our feet but I have a good feeling the show will go on for years and years,” Salke said.
Based on Jordan’s novels, The Wheel of Time was adapted for television by executive producer/showrunner Judkins. Larry Mondragon and Rick Selvage of iwot productions, Mike Weber and Ted Field of Radar Pictures, Darren Lemke, Marigo Kehoe, and Uta Briesewitz will also serve as executive producers, with Briesewitz set to direct the first two episodes. Pike serves as producer and Harriet McDougal and Brandon Sanderson as consulting producers. The Wheel of Time is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures TV.
Created by Casey Hudson, Drew Karpyshyn and Preston Watamaniuk, Mass Effect is a sci-fi action video game franchise developed by BioWare and Electronic Arts. The series launched in 2007 with the first Mass Effect game, which follows Systems Alliance Navy vet Commander Shepard who must fight against an ancient machine race that looks to invade the Milky Way. The franchise also includes the second and third installments of the Mass Effect trilogy and various spin-offs including mobile games and Mass Effect: Andromeda.
[Alexandra del Rosario contributed to this report.]
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerPrime Video
Prime VideoDanh sách 10 chương trình và bộ phim Top 10 video của Amazon Prime cho Thứ Tư, ngày 5 tháng 10 một lần nữa đứng đầu bởi Chúa tể của những chiếc nhẫn: những chiếc nhẫn quyền lực, hoặc như tôi muốn gọi nó là . Đó là một tiêu đề nặng từ viết tắt. Thậm chí không có gì có thể đến gần với việc giải phóng Trop ở vị trí số 1, mặc dù luồng bóng đá đêm thứ năm của Prime Video có thể sẽ làm nếu nó được tính. & NBSP;
Các bộ phim và chương trình mới phổ biến nhất của Prime Video trên Video Prime được liệt kê dưới đây, nhưng chúng tôi không chỉ cho bạn biết những gì trong danh sách; Chúng tôi cũng đặt ý kiến của mình lên đó để giúp bạn tìm ra những gì đáng xem. Và để giúp bạn lên kế hoạch cho những gì bạn sẽ xem tiếp theo, chúng tôi cũng đã thêm các chương trình và phim mới đến Prime Video.
Các bản phát hành gần đây trên Video Prime:
- Jungle - Bộ phim truyền hình tội phạm Anh lấy bối cảnh gần và rung cảm với một bản nhạc hip -hop. [30 tháng 9] & nbsp; - British crime drama series set in the near future and vibing to a hip-hop soundtrack. [Sept. 30]
- Người bạn thân nhất của tôi Exorcism & NBSP;- Bộ phim hài kinh dị về một thiếu niên bị chiếm hữu. [30 tháng 9] - Horror-comedy film about a teenager who gets possessed. [Sept. 30]
- Xe cứu thương & nbsp;- Bộ phim kinh dị ngớ ngẩn 2022 của Michael Bay về những tên cướp ngân hàng, những người cướp xe cứu thương ở Los Angeles. [30 tháng 9] - Michael Bay's silly 2022 thriller about bank robbers who hijack an ambulance in Los Angeles. [Sept. 30]
- UN Extraño Enemigo 2 - Phim kinh dị chính trị Mexico lấy bối cảnh vào cuối những năm 1960. [30 tháng 9] - Mexican political thriller set in the late 1960s. [Sept. 30]
- Phù dâu, Edward Scissorhands, sự im lặng của những con cừu, và nhiều hơn nữa -& nbsp; xem toàn bộ danh sách ở đây. [Ngày 1 tháng 10] - See the whole list here. [Oct. 1]
Các chương trình và phim mới sắp tới trên Video Prime:
- Mang nó vào, Ghost & NBSP;- Bộ phim truyền hình lãng mạn siêu nhiên Hàn Quốc về một người đàn ông có khả năng nhìn thấy những con ma hợp tác với một- chờ đợi nó- con ma nữ thực hiện trừ tà. Vâng, họ yêu nhau. Nó không phải là về đội cổ vũ quang phổ. [Ngày 6 tháng 10] & nbsp; - South Korean supernatural romantic drama series about a man with the ability to see ghosts who teams up with a — wait for it — female ghost to perform exorcisms. Yes, they fall for each other. It is not about spectral cheerleaders. [Oct. 6]
- Catherine gọi Birdy & nbsp;- Bộ phim mới của Lena Dunham vào năm 1290 Anh về một cô gái trẻ [Bella Ramsey] có cha muốn kết hôn với cô vì lợi thế chính trị. [Ngày 7 tháng 10] - Lena Dunham's new film set in 1290 England about a young lady [Bella Ramsey] whose father wants to marry her off for political advantage. [Oct. 7]
Amazon Prime Video Top 10 chương trình và phim
Amazon Prime Video Top 10 Shows and Movies: October 4
Top 10 chương trình truyền hình và phim trên video Amazon Prime
Alan Ritchson, Reacherkeri Anderson/Amazon Studios
Keri Anderson/Amazon Studios1. Chúa tể của những chiếc nhẫn: Những chiếc nhẫn quyền lực
Đối với người hâm mộ của: & nbsp; yêu tinh, orc, người lùn, hobbits, v.v ... nó tốt ?: Nó sống theo những kỳ vọng cao được đặt trên nó & nbsp; Elves, orcs, dwarves, hobbits, etc.
Is it good?: It lives up to the high expectations placed on it [Review]
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 1
2. Memory
Đối với người hâm mộ của: Liam Neeson làm việc của mình, Boomer Assassins có tốt không? Liam Neeson doing his thing, boomer assassins
Is it good?:
This action thriller is far from Neeson's best
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 2
3. người tiếp cận
Đối với người hâm mộ của: & nbsp; những anh chàng khổng lồ đá mông và làm công việc thám tử có tốt không? Huge dudes kicking butt and doing detective work
Is it good?: Amazon's hit
action show is great and will be around for a long time [Review]
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 4
4. Xe cứu thương
Đối với người hâm mộ của: Thriller không có não, Sirensis nó hay ?: Đó là một trong những bộ phim hay hơn của Michael Bay, nếu điều đó nói bất cứ điều gì đó Brainless thrillers, sirens
Is it good?: It's one of Michael Bay's better films, if that's saying anything
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 7
5. & nbsp; danh sách thiết bị đầu cuối
Đối với người hâm mộ của: & nbsp; Chris Pratt, phim kinh dị quân sự, những người khó tính & nbsp; Có tốt không? Chris Pratt, military thrillers, tough guys
Is it good?: It's a solid shoot 'em up adaptation of Jack Carr's book [Review]
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 5
Thêm trên Amazon:
- Các chương trình truyền hình hay nhất trên video Amazon Prime ngay bây giờ
- Những bộ phim hay nhất trên video Amazon Prime ngay bây giờ
- Phim và chương trình video Amazon Prime mới sắp diễn ra vào tháng 10 năm 2022
- Hướng dẫn cuối cùng để phát trực tuyến vào tháng 10
Zac Efron, Firestarteruniversal Pictures
Universal Pictures6. Chó
Đối với người hâm mộ của: Channing Tatum, Dogsis It Good ?: Bộ phim hài kéo trái tim là một người bạn thân của Studdy Movietrailer | & nbsp; Thứ hạng của ngày hôm qua: 3 Channing Tatum, dogs
Is it good?: The heart-tugging comedy is a solid buddy movie
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 3
7. Các chàng trai
Đối với người hâm mộ của: & nbsp; siêu anh hùng, siêu nhân, giám sát có tốt không? Superheroes, superjerks, superviolence
Is it good?: It's one of TV's best, and certainly the best satirical superhero series
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 6
8. & nbsp; một vấn đề riêng tư
Đối với người hâm mộ của: & nbsp; Thrillers, những năm 1940 sang trọng, phim truyền hình tiếng Tây Ban Nha Nó tốt? Thrillers, 1940s chic, Spanish-language dramas
Is it good?: Zippy serial-killer drama is a decent diversion
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 8
9. Firestarter
Đối với người hâm mộ của: & nbsp; cô bé đó và nhà ghi nhớ nhà đang cháy, zac efron như một người cha nó tốt?: Tất cả đều là khói và không có lính cứu hỏa | & nbsp; That little girl and the burning house meme, Zac Efron as a dad
Is it good?: It's all smoke and no fire
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 9
10. Samaritan
Đối với người hâm mộ của: & nbsp; Superheroes, Sylvester Stallone đánh bại Robocop-type Street Crooksis Nó tốt ?: Đó chỉ là một bộ phim siêu anh hùng Dark OK [Đánh giá] Trailer | Superheroes,
Sylvester Stallone beating up Robocop-type street crooks
Is it good?: It's just an OK dark superhero film [Review]
Trailer | Yesterday's rank: 10
Dựa trên danh sách 10 bộ phim và chương trình truyền hình hàng đầu của Amazon Prime Video cho Thứ Tư, ngày 5 tháng 10