Since most of Amazon’s Wheel of Time cast is made up of relative newcomers, I was interested to see them act on screen. There wasn't much material to work from, but luckily I was able to dig out a few clips, videos, and trailers so fans of the upcoming show can get familiar with the faces.
I'm very excited to see these young actors rise to stardom. Viewers will get to see them evolve as professionals as they play these wonderful characters. For those who have read the books completely, you know what I am talking about. Without giving much away, the characters at the end of the Wheel of Time are not the same as they once were, obviously, but its brilliantly done and I for one cannot wait to see it throughout the next decade.
It reminds me of Game of Thrones, and yes I will always bring it up because I believed it open the door for Amazon's Wheel of Time to become a reality with a god damn massive budget. Kit Harrington (Jon Snow) and Emilia Clarke (Daenerys) were unknowns as well. Sophie Turner (Sansa) and Maise Williams (Arya) grew up on the show and are now very successful. They became better actors as the show marched on, season by season, and their characters progressed. The same will be true of the young cast of Wheel of Time.
Actors like Sean Bean (Ned) and Lena Headley (Cersei) were the veterans on set. They provided stability, but the show always had a focus on the growth of the young cast becoming major players in the game. Amazon has hired the likes of Rosamund Pike, a brilliant choice and talented individual. Or even Michael McElhatton, a Thrones alum with a heavy resume.
So keep in mind, these actors will improve dramatically during this series. And these clips may not be the best, but they were all the best that I could find. If anyone comes upon some better videos, feel free to send them my way.
Josha Stradowski graduated from theater school in Amsterdam and has done a number of stage performances before moving on to TV and film. He plays the central character of the series, Rand Al'Thor. Here’s his show reel.
Madeleine Madden has appeared in a number of shows in Australia and is in theaters now in Paramount's Dora and the Lost City of Gold. She’ll play Egwene, a young woman from Two Rivers. Here are some of her scenes from Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Zoë Robins hails from New Zealand where she has played a number of roles on television. She’ll play Nynaeve. A little cheesy, but here is Robins as the White Power Ranger in Power Rangers Ninja Steel.
Marcus Rutherford is a relatively new actor. He is from the UK and was nominated for the British Independent Film Award's Most Promising Newcomer. He plays the wolfish Perrin, one of Rand's closest companions. Here is the trailer for his film, Obey.
Barney Harris is a British actor and relative newcomer. He’ll play Mat Cauthon. A lover of mischief and another of Rand's closest companions. Here is the trailer for his film, Starboy.
Remember, if you’ve never heard of any of these actors, that’s a good thing! As an added bonus, here’s a great clip of Rosamund Pike in an interview for her role as an Audible narrator for the book, Pride and Prejudice. She the calming and serene voice just like Moiraine. You can already imagine her saying, “The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.”