Amazon’s upcoming fantasy epic, Wheel of Time, is recasting one of its lead roles for the second season. Based on the novels penned by the late Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Wheel of Time is widely considered to be one of the most influential works of modern fantasy since J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Shortly set to make its debut on Amazon Prime, the first season consists of eight episodes, the first three of which will begin streaming on November 19.
Originally announced by Sony Pictures Television in 2017, the series is being helmed by Chuck and Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD screenwriter, Rafe Judkins. After Amazon stepped in to co-produce and distribute the series in 2018, filming officially got underway in September 2019. Featuring a massive lineup of characters, the first season’s cast includes Rosamund Pike as Moiraine, Josha Stradowski as Rand al'Thor, Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara, Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al'Meara, Barney Harris as Matrim Cauthon, Madeleine Madden as Egwene al'Vere, and Daniel Henney as al'Lan Mandragoran.
With filming on season two already well underway, it appears that the core cast is getting a shakeup. Deadline reports that Harris will not be returning as Matrim “Mat” Cauthon in the sophomore season. Instead, the role is set to be taken over by actor Dónal Finn who has previously appeared in both The Witcher season 1 and Cursed, which is currently available on Netflix. According to Deadline, the reasons for Harris’ departure from the show are presently unclear.
While the news of a casting reshuffle may upset some fans, this certainly isn’t the first time that a major fantasy series has recast key roles. Throughout its eight-season run, Game of Thrones recast several roles, including that of Ser Gregor Clegane, Daario Naharis, and Tommen Baratheon. Admittedly though, Mat Cauthon’s role as one of the “Emond’s Field Five” around whom the series revolves, is a much more high-profile character in Wheel of Time than any of GoT's recast characters were.
Of course, this news doesn’t necessarily indicate any potential problems with the show’s production, and other series such as Spartacus have managed to successfully continue after recasting its central protagonist. While Harris’ replacement is certain to get fans speculating, there is a multitude of reasons as to why he may have been unable to continue in the role, including possible scheduling conflicts or other commitments. Until more information comes to light, there is little sense in theorizing what may have prompted the decision. Regardless, Harris will still appear throughout the Wheel of Time’s first season when it hits Amazon in November.
Source: Deadline