Everyone,

After returning from the recent JordanCon event in Atlanta, I am both exhausted and inspired. I always learn a lot from the Wheel of Time community, and JordanCon gave me an opportunity to both share our progress on the movie project and also to hear what readers of Robert Jordan’s books would like to see in a big-screen adaption of their favorite fantasy series. It was good to be able to spend some time with Harriet at the event; she has truly been the guiding Light (yes, pun intended!) in the mammoth effort being made by Brandon Sanderson to complete Robert Jordan’s unfinished work. I also was fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Brandon, as we had a delightful discussion over dinner one evening about some ideas for the adaptation of The Eye of the World, and we were joined by Jason Denzel of Dragonmount, who has been consulting with Red Eagle for this film project.

On Saturday, I sat on a panel called “The Future of the Franchise,” and was joined by Jason and Melissa Craib-Dombroski of TarValon.net (who, I should add, also serves as the Online Community Director of our affiliate company, Red Eagle Games). Our primary mission was to address the future of Wheel of Time movies and video games, and also to cover the future of the literary series after the publication of A Memory of Light.

I wish more members of the Wheel of Time community could have experienced JordanCon first-hand, but for those who couldn’t make it to the *Con, I would like to share some key pieces of information about our ongoing movie project.

To begin, we (i.e., myself and my Red Eagle producing partner, Rick Selvage) did give ample consideration to the question as to whether the adaptation of the series would best be done in either film or television. We held discussions with many screenwriters, directors and studios regarding how this project ought to be produced, and what would be the most appropriate means to present the story to an audience consisting of long-time fans as well as persons who have never heard of The Wheel of Time series. After careful deliberation, we decided that a live-action feature film release would offer the best medium for bringing the characters and epic fantasy setting of Robert Jordan’s work to life. Yes, we do recognize that film does have some limitations, but it also offers a wealth of production resources and other advantages that television simply can’t match (generally better production and on-screen talent, better quality due to longer production time, superior budget and the ability to tell a complete story without the threat of being summarily axed by a network over low ratings).

I’m not sure where the idea about Red Eagle Entertainment and Universal Pictures making three Wheel of Time movies came from (I should check Snopes to see where this urban legend originated). The fact is we are working to make a single movie based upon The Eye of the World. All of our efforts are focused on making one great picture, and it would be presumptuous for us to look to the future before the audience has had the chance to judge the very first film (kind of like a baseball player who is lost in thought about how he will round third base before he has even hit the ball). It goes without saying that we are working hard to ensure that we will build appropriate points of continuity into our screenplay, so that we will be able to continue the story in a sequel picture, if the Light wills it so. Therefore, if we are successful, we should have the ability to continue the story of Rand and his friends well into the future. For the moment however, our eyes are squarely on Job #1-- getting the first film done right.

A fan of the series can rightly ask how we intend to fit an 800 page novel into a 120 page screenplay. Clearly, this won’t be easy. However, we have a significant advantage in using a visual medium that will enable us to take an entire chapter of descriptive narrative from the novel (say, the escape from Shadar Logoth or Thom’s apparent death at the hands of the Myddraal or Perrin’s feral rage as he unsuccessfully tries to fight off the Whitecloaks) and visually present this in a powerful scene or two. That being said, there most certainly will have to be some elements of the story edited, cut, abbreviated or compressed in order to fit within the time constraints of the movie format. Before letting loose your groans, please understand that we do know that done poorly, a movie adaptation of fantasy novel can be beautiful to the eye, but excruciating and incomprehensible to follow (did anyone else want their ticket money back after having seen The Golden Compass?). I strongly believe that what is important in our story is not the litany of events or minor characters described in the novel, but rather, the coming of age of five young friends (Rand, Egwene, Perrin, Mat and Nynaeve), as they leave their sheltered lives in the Two Rivers and embark upon a journey of self-discovery in which they must overcome their fears while accepting and embracing their unique individual talents in order to serve a greater good. In my way of thinking, our great task is to establish strong, identifiable characters who each face choices that will alter the rest of their lives, and in so doing, the fate of the world.

I’m sure that I have broken some hearts, having definitively revealed that we are not making a 19-hour movie that will include every supper-song, Darkfriend and skinny innkeeper portrayed in The Eye of the World. For that, I’m truly sorry. However, I expect that those in The Wheel of Time community who give our finished film a chance will discover that our adaptation will prove to be faithful to the characters and main plotlines of the novel, while bringing forth an exciting visual perspective to this wonderful world that Robert Jordan (and his talented proxy, Brandon Sanderson) have given to us.

May you always find water and shade,

Larry Mondragon
Red Eagle Entertainment