EXCLUSIVE: BAFTA winner and Emmy nominee Kari Skogland has been set to direct animated feature The Age of Legends, the first installment in the planned trilogy of films that will explore the origins of Robert Jordan’s bestselling book series, The Wheel of Time.
Screenplay comes from Thor, X-Men: First Class and Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous scribe Zack Stentz.
Set several millennia before the timeline of the books, The Age of Legends will chart the emergence of ‘the Dark One’, when the world descended into darkness and war. The film will delve into the corrosive nature of power and pride, as seen through the tragic tales of the Forsaken – once honored leaders who fell victim to the Dark One’s seduction, each personifying distinct elements of human weakness and ambition. The story will also portray the valorous sacrifices of unexpected heroes who rise against the Dark One to defend humanity in the face of overwhelming odds.
Skogland is best known for directing series such as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Walking Dead, and House of Cards, as well as upcoming movie sequel Wind River: Rising.
The film is being produced by Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon of iwot productions, and Ted Field of Radar Pictures. Separately, Selvage, Mondragon, and Field are executive producers for the TV adaptation of The Wheel of Time co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios.
Eva Longoria, James Leon, Mike McGuiness and Justin Smith are executive producers.
“Directing The Age of Legends is a remarkable opportunity to bring a beloved universe to life and delve into the rich lore that has long-captivated the hearts of millions of book readers around the world,” said director Kari Skogland.
“My vision is to honor the worldbuilding of Jordan’s masterwork, while peeling back the layers of legend and myth to reveal the flesh-and-blood characters underneath— flawed heroes and villains alike— ordinary people forced to make extraordinary choices as their world unravels.”
“Kari’s brilliance in crafting visually stunning worlds makes her the ideal director for The Age of Legends,” said Rick Selvage, President of iwot productions. “This film is not just an adaptation; it’s an exploration of an original world that blends fantasy with elements of science fiction, and Kari’s mastery in storytelling is crucial for bringing Jordan’s vision to life.”
Kari Skogland is represented by Adriana Alberghetti at William Morris Endeavor, Adam Schulman and Rosalie Swedlin at Anonymous Content, and Barry Littman at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller. Radar is represented by Buchwald, Zack Stentz is represented by Susan Solomon at Circle of Confusion and Bryan Swatt and Ken Richman at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
The Wheel of Time novels are owned by The Bandersnatch Group, who is represented by Joel Gotler of Intellectual Property Group for film and television.
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