There’s a 3D animated feature in the works based on Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time universe. The movie, called The White Tower, takes place before the events in Jordan’s books, and its official description raises some questions.
Here’s the synopsis for the film, per Deadline:
The action-adventure movie will chart the story of a young girl with a special gift. Her life is forever changed when evil visits her remote mountain village. Finding herself alone in a dangerous world, she must go to The White Tower to learn how to use her magical powers to save her family and friends. Rebellious and mistrusting, she learns that there is something in this world that is as powerful a weapon in the fight against evil as any form of magic.
It’s that last sentence that raises at least one question: What in the world of The Wheel of Time is as powerful a weapon as magic to fight evil? Another question is how far back The Wheel of Time’s history the events of The White Tower take place. Knowing that would provide clues as to who was in the Amyrlin Seat, at the very least.
We’ll have to wait a bit to find out, though the good news is that along with an already-written script from Thor screenwriter Zack Stentz, the project also just snagged Jay Oliva (The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 and 2) as director.
“I am so excited to be joining this amazing creative team,” Oliva said in a statement per Deadline. “Reading Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time inspired me to become a filmmaker, and having an opportunity to explore the world he created has been a lifelong dream of mine. The rich history of The White Tower has intrigued me, and the expansive backstory of the books gives the creative team the freedom to tell a fresh and imaginative story within the familiar world that was so meticulously crafted by Jordan in The Wheel of Time.”
No news on when The White Tower will be released, but the team is planning to start work in early 2024.
