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HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Is a Good Live-Action Remake Yet Totally Pointless (Review)

Universal Pictures’ new How to Train Your Dragon is a good live-action remake. It looks great, its strengths far outweigh its issues, and it hits all the right emotional beats. It’s a good movie. For sure. The problem is none of that stops it from still feeling totally pointless.

If you like director Dean DeBlois’ 2010 animated classic you’ll almost certainly like director Dean DeBlois’ 2025 remake of his own movie. The live-action How to Train Your Dragon is exactly the same story with humans and only the smallest of changes. It’s a de facto shot-for-shot remake that omits a few minor scenes and adds in a couple small ones. A few others are slightly extended or have added dialogue. (The most notable added dialogue is a whole lot of setup for the sequel.) There are no big, meaningful changes in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, so if the original version works for you—and why wouldn’t it since it’s great and still feels modern?—this one will, too.

Staying so true to the original (which, again, is just 15 years old) creates an obvious problem for anyone who has seen that film. It’s impossible not to view this live-action version through the lens of its predecessor, which is a superior film. The live-action How to Train Your Dragon version suffers in comparison in ways it wouldn’t if it existed on its own.

Universal Pictures

The first problem is that Toothless looks identical to his animated counterpart in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. He looks better than the film’s trailers indicate, but he still just looks like a cartoon. Meanwhile Berk’s other dragons all get live-action updated. They feel fresh and like they belong in this version of the world. By keeping Toothless and all that accompanying sweet Toothless merch locked into his original appearance, he feels out of place.

An even bigger problem is that while talented main human star Mason Thames is genuinely good and will have you rooting for Hiccup the whole time, he is simply too handsome and too put-together for the role. The original cartoon Hiccup looks so much younger. Thames is 17 but looks much older in the film. Cartoon Hiccup was also all limbs, thin and gangly. He was the type of awkward kid you wouldn’t trust to walk to his bedroom without tripping. Combined with Jay Barcuhel’s distinct voice, that Hiccup clearly stood out as different in Berk. But while the live-action How to Train Your Dragon film keeps telling us (far too often) that Thames’ Hiccup has the same exact issues, it’s not a convincing argument. He looks and sounds like a leading man.

Universal Pictures

A horrible haircut can’t cover up for him physically looking like he absolutely belongs among his fellow Vikings. Especially in comparison to many of his other dragon-training classmates who actually don’t look like they belong.

The nearly two-hour-long film also suffers from some pacing issues in the first half. It’s too slow and really starts to drag, which is no surprise since this remake adds roughly 25 minutes to the original’s runtime. Fortunately, the film really soars in the second half, which is both exciting and emotional. But at no point is it ever as funny as the animated version. That’s not from a lack of effort. There are some good laughs in the movie, but too many attempts at humor fall flat to call this movie actually funny.

Still, those are really the only flaws the film has. Everything else works. The visuals are great, the action sequences are intense, and Hiccup’s most important relationships are all still moving, well-developed, and meaningful.

Universal Pictures

The best justification for this remake’s existence comes from the two most important humans in Hiccup’s life. I absolutely loved Gerard Butler’s live-action Stoick in How to Train Your Dragon. This might be my favorite performance from him ever. It’s like the fantastic, bombastic animated character literally came to life. He also sounds just like the cartoon Stoick.* Meanwhile, Nico Parker’s Astrid is everything fans would want from the character. She’s fierce, fearsome, and fearless. She also ends up being a huge emotional anchor in the story and a big reason the second half is so good.

You already know why that’s true because you already know this story. It’s so similar that it results in a strange theatrical experience. Despite it being my first viewing of this version, the whole time it felt like I was rewatching it. And since it’s good, but just not quite as great as the animated film, what’s the point? The point is obviously “money.” This is a big franchise for a company that just opened up a new theme park with a whole How To Train Your Dragon land. There were obvious good business reasons to remake this film.

That is not my concern, and it won’t be for people who opt to see it. They only care if the movie is good, and while it is essentially pointless artistically, the live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake is good. It’s a good movie for both kids and adults. Just as it was for its better, identical animated version.

How To Train Your Dragon (2025) ⭐ (3.5 of 5)

*This is called a joke. If you already yelled at me on social media without realizing you missed the joke please attend a local standup open mic night as penance.

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Lee Pace Is a Ripped Messiah in FOUNDATION Season 3 Trailer

The haunting new trailer for season three of Apple TV’s adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s series Foundation makes three things clear. The first two is that the Mule is coming for the entire universe and there’s only one person who can stop him. The third is that regardless of how deadly and tragic things get this year, every episode of this season is going to result in thirsty memes about Lee Pace looking like a ripped messiah.

The fate of the universe hangs in the balance in this latest look at Foundation. The trailer for Foundation season three makes it clear that a new threat is coming. It will cause former foes to unite so mankind can hope to avoid a reign of darkness. Why does Game of Thrones‘ alum Pilou Asbæk’s Mule pose such a danger? To go along with the new Foundation trailer, here’s the official season three synopsis from Apple:

Set 152 years after the events of season two, The Foundation has become increasingly established far beyond its humble beginnings while the Cleonic Dynasty’s Empire has dwindled. As both of these galactic powers forge an uneasy alliance, a threat to the entire galaxy appears in the fearsome form of a warlord known as “The Mule” whose sights are set on ruling the universe by use of physical and military force, as well as mind control. It’s anyone’s guess who will win, who will lose, who will live and who will die as Hari Seldon, Gaal Dornick, the Cleons and Demerzel play a potentially deadly game of intergalactic chess.   

Apple TV

Season three will feature plenty of new faces joining returning stars Pace, Jared Harris, and Lou Llobell. Cherry Jones, Brandon P. Bell, Synnøve Karlsen, Cody Fern, Tómas Lemarquis, Alexander Siddig, and Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur are getting in on the intergalactic fun/mayhem. We see many of them in action in the Foundation season three trailer above.

RELATED ARTICLE

FOUNDATION Shares Season 3 Trailer, First Images, and Summer Release Date

As for lead Lee Pace’s appearance this season, well, there are a lot of comments we could make about it. This Foundation season three trailer is not stingy with its hot messiah visuals. For example, we might say, he probably turns water into protein shakes at his CrossFit gym. Or talk about how he’s going to convert some viewers into following a new religion based entirely on his beard and bod. And how prayers at his church will instead with, “A-Man!” instead.

We could go on. But we bet the internet will take care of that for us soon enough. Foundation‘s ten-episode third season debuts at Apple TV on Friday, July 11, 2025.

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ANDOR Creator Acknowledges Disappointment of the ROGUE ONE Cassian/Jyn Shippers

Many Star Wars fans found themselves invested in the relationship, for lack of a better term, of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) in Rogue One. But in a recent interview with Collider, Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy sympathized with Rogue One fans who felt that the show played down the “ship” of Cassian and Jyn. The two seasons of Andor instead focused a great deal on Cassian’s on-again/off-again relationship with Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona). After all, these characters have known each other since they were children. Here’s what Tony Gilroy had to say on the subject:

I knew very well what had happened with Jyn and Cassian in Rogue One and what had happened in the elevator. I knew that scene very, very well. I probably went back and looked at that. I was pleased to see that my memory of it was of all the other takes and other things, and I was really pleased to see how we’d edited that, that it was really ambiguous about what it was, and then I didn’t care anymore. I was like, ‘Okay. It makes sense. I mean, why wouldn’t you hold somebody’s hand at the end of the world?’

Lucasfilm

We’re not entirely sure why Star Wars fans would be disappointed. We think Rogue One made it clear that Cassian Andor didn’t meet Jyn Erso until the events of that film. And their chemistry is more like emotional bonding during the most stressful circumstances. At best, these two knew each other for a few days, tops. Nothing that happens in Rogue One between the two characters minimizes Cassian’s relationship with Bix, or vice versa. Sure, a beautiful romance might have blossomed between Cassian and Jyn eventually. But obviously, the end of Rogue One negates that from ever happening. But never underestimate how passionate fans of any IP are about their favorite ships.

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Watch Tom Hiddleston Talk THE LIFE OF CHUCK and LOKI Surrounded by Adorable Puppies

Tom Hiddleston will soon return as the God of Mischief Loki in Avengers: Doomsday, reprising his iconic MCU role. But before Doomsday, he’s starring alongside Mark Hamill in Mike Flanagan’s Stephen King adaptation, The Life of Chuck. While doing press for the film, Hiddleston found himself on BuzzFeed Celeb puppy interviews. In that video series, they ask questions of a celeb surrounded by an avalanche of adorable puppies. The British actor tried his best to answer questions seriously while surrounded by the cutest baby pooches you’ve ever seen. You can watch the full Tom Hiddleston Puppy Interview down below:

While the focus was on Hiddleston’s current project The Life of Chuck, his MCU role as Loki inevitably came up. When asked which Marvel character he still wants to share a scene with but hasn’t yet, he says Daredevil right away. While an Asgardian god vs. an urban vigilante may seem like an odd pairing, Hiddleston has personal reasons for wanting to see it. He and Daredevil actor Charlie Cox are good friends who go way back, and have already acted on stage together. One Halloween a few years back, they even traded characters. Cox put on the Loki horns, and Hiddleston wore Matt Murdock’s famous red costume.

BuzzFeed Celeb

In another MCU-related portion of the video, Hiddleston, while playing with two rambunctious pups he nicknames “Thor” and “Loki,” talks about the time he and Chris Hemsworth got a horrible case of the giggles on set. This was during the filming of Thor: The Dark World in Iceland. There, the two just burst out laughing while shooting near a volcano and couldn’t stop. Hey, it happens to all of us. However, for most people, it’s not while wearing outfits that are armor with capes attached. Tom Hiddleston will start filming his part as Loki in Doomsday soon, but in the meantime, you can catch him in The Life of Chuck in select theaters starting June 13.

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INCREDIBLES 3 Will Be Directed by ELEMENTAL’s Peter Sohn, Brad Bird Still Involved

It’s been some time since we’ve heard any news about a third Incredibles film from Disney/Pixar. The studio officially announced a third Incredibles movie at D23 in August, 2024. But now we have our first concrete news about the project since. According to Deadline, Elemental and The Good Dinosaur director Peter Sohn has signed on to direct Incredibles 3. This makes it the first Incredibles film not directed by Brad Bird, although Bird is still writing the screenplay. He’s also producing Incredibles 3, along with Soul producer Dana Murray.

Pixar/Disney

The first Incredibles became a smash hit for Pixar in 2004. Given its superhero genre, people expected a sequel right away. But Pixar took its sweet time, waiting a whopping 14 years before Incredibles 2. When the second movie came out in the summer of 2018, it landed at the peak of superhero movies, probably to its benefit. It arrived the same year as Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, Deadpool 2, Venom, Aquaman, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Despite the glut of superhero movies that year, Incredibles 2 still made an enormous $1.242 billion worldwide.

Hopefully, this means the wait between the second and third movies will be shorter than the wait between the first two. There’s no word on a release date yet, but if they have a director attached, it could be as soon as 2027. The first Incredibles featured the voice talents of Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter as Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, with their superhero children Violet and Dash voiced by Sarah Vowell and Spencer Fox, respectively. Samuel L. Jackson also had a significant role as the ice-hero Frozone. We expect them all to return, although no casting has been announced as of yet. Here’s hoping baby Jack-Jack has an even bigger part this time. We can’t get enough of that overpowered toddler.

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THE LAST OF US Creators Confirm Abby Will Lead Season 3

The second season of HBO’s The Last of Us was just a little bit controversial. For fans of the game, The Last of Us Part II, the show deviated from the tone and visceral anger of Ellie in her search for vengeance. For people who hadn’t played the game… Well, spoilers, it kills off season one’s main character, Joel, in episode two. Sorry. But people might be even more surprised to learn that the third season won’t feature much Ellie or Joel, instead focusing on Abby. Abby, of course, is the WLF soldier who sought out and killed Joel in season two. Game and show creator Neil Druckmann confirmed as much at an Emmys FYC panel.

HBO

Abby, played in the show by Kaitlyn Dever, is the daughter of the Firefly doctor who nearly found a cure for the cordyceps infection, were it not for Joel killing him. This led to her finding and murdering him, quite brutally. In the game, this is a shock, but more shocking is that players have to take control of Abby for most of the second half of the playtime.

Druckmann explained (via THR) that HBO steered into “those controversial decisions,” like killing Joel so early. “But the decisions are just what the story required,” he explained,” and even now, it’s like I can’t believe that they let us structure the series in this way. Meaning like we just ended season two, and season three is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn.”

The creator continued, “I was sure that they wouldn’t let us do this when we started adapting this, but they’ve leaned into what makes, I believe, the story special. And allowed us not only the time but the creative freedom to be able to take these swings, and I think the audience really appreciates that.”

I’m not entirely sure the entire audience appreciates it. Certainly not the Pedro Pascal diehards. But it does make for a different kind of series than what has come before. Each season has a different main protagonist. Whether or not the show will end with season three or adapt the final hours of gameplay in a fourth season is not yet known. But as The Last of Us is a huge hit, I can’t imagine HBO will want to end it any earlier than they have to.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

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James Gunn Says There’s No Justice League in the DCU Yet

Superman will soon arrive on the big screen once more, played by David Corenswet, heralding the true start of a new cinematic DCU. And we know several other superheroes are joining him in that movie. Among them are DC Comics heroes Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and Green Lantern Guy Gardner. But according to DC Studios co-head and Superman director James Gunn, that team is not the Justice League. The name “the Justice Gang” appears in various tie-in materials already. In fact, Gunn says that his DCU doesn’t even have a Justice League. At least not at the present moment. Here’s what Gunn had to say when Entertainment Weekly asked him if he was setting up an eventual Justice League:

Of course, of course. But there is no Justice League in this world….not yet.

When pressed further if a Justice League project was part of the plan for his Gods and Monsters Chapter 1 of the DCU, Gunn only responded by coyly saying “Sure.” When they asked David Corenswet about his Kal-El joining a Justice League down the line, the actor said “What I like to do is stay blissfully ignorant, and then when James tells me what’s going to happen, I get to have a wonderful surprise. So if Justice League is in the back of his mind, that sounds great to me. I’ll put it at the back of my mind and we’ll see what happens.”

DC Comics

Although the Justice League has had expanded memberships, sometimes with dozens of members, the most iconic lineups were founded by a “Core 7” group of heroes. Originally, that core group consisted of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter. The seventh slot is often interchangeable. In the Justice League animated series, Hawkgirl replaced Aquaman. In DC Comics’ New 52 reboot, Cyborg replaced Martian Manhunter. For the DCEU, they eliminated a seventh founder, making it a team of six. Despite promotional materials using the slogan “Unite the Seven.” What was that all about?

Warner Bros. Animation/DC Comics

With Wonder Woman now announced as coming to the DCU, as well as a version of Batman in Brave and the Bold, we have them along with Superman as the DC trinity. Lanterns will introduce Green Lantern John Stewart (Arron Pierre), and Superman is already introducing Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced). If Gunn introduces a version of the Wally West Flash, along with Martian Manhunter, right there is a live-action version of that beloved animated team. If Gunn is heading that way for his big-screen Justice League, we can’t say we hate that roster at all.

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James Gunn Says a New WONDER WOMAN Movie Is in the Works

Recently, the head of Warner Bros. cited Superman, Batman, Supergirl, and Wonder Woman as the “Four pillars of the DC Universe.” Superman, of course, has a big movie coming out this summer, with his cousin Supergirl following next year. A Brave and the Bold movie featuring Batman and Robin is still in the works as well, although further down the line. But what about Wonder Woman? Aside from an Amazon-centric Paradise Lost series announced two years ago, there’s been no news on Diana Prince’s return. Well, James Gunn has announced that one is now officially in the works. Here’s what he told Entertainment Weekly:

Wonder Woman‘s a separate thing [to Paradise Lost, that is], slow moving, but it’s moving. We’re working on Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman‘s being written right now.

DC Comics

That’s the first news we’ve had that a Wonder Woman movie is being written at all. Gunn didn’t say who was writing the script, apparently holding back that announcement for a later date. He definitely didn’t mention who would play the DCU’s Amazing Amazon. Gunn has never said Gal Gadot is officially no longer our Princess Diana of Themyscira, but that’s the assumption. If new actors are playing Superman and Batman, it stands to reason they’ll want a new actress as Wonder Woman as well. If only to avoid any further brand confusion with the old DCEU.

Patty Jenkins’ first Wonder Woman film was a critical and commercial smash in the summer of 2017. It was the first well-received DCEU film, at least from a critical standpoint, after Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and Suicide Squad. The sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, fared far more poorly, released in the height of the pandemic, going straight to HBO Max. But Wonder Woman is far too big of a character in the DC pantheon to sideline. And if Gunn is building up his Justice League, he’ll need to establish her as part of the core lineup. We’ve got a Superman, a Supergirl, soon a Batman, and three Green Lanterns to choose from now. With a new Wonder Woman now officially in the works, we eagerly await news on Gunn’s plans for the Flash. The DCU needs a Scarlet Speedster too.

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THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Galactus Popcorn Bucket Is $80

Marvel Studios has had some pretty epic popcorn buckets lately. We had Cap’s shield for Captain America: Brave New World, and all those suggestive Logan heads from Deadpool & Wolverine. But right now, The Fantastic Four: First Steps might be winning the Marvel popcorn bucket tournament with their batch of offerings from AMC Theatres. First, we get a giant Galactus head, so you can devour popcorn straight from the Devourer of Worlds. He’s also the Devourer of Bank Accounts. Reports share that the Galactus bucket is a whopping $80! More than the cost of most AAA video games. Sheesh.

But there’s also the FF’s robot mascot, H.E.R.B.I.E. as a concession vessel. This holds not only popcorn, but also drinks and candy. You can check out images of the new The Fantastic Four: First Steps offerings below:

Click To View Gallery AMC Theatres AMC Theatres AMC Theatres AMC Theatres

In addition, there are four popcorn tins from AMC that have a retro ’60s vibe, which feature all the members of the team. There are also character totem cups, also featuring Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Thing, and the Human Torch. Or, as their friends know them, Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm. The totem cups each have a color scheme that corresponds to each member of the team. Ben’s is rocky orange, Johnny’s is fire red, Sue’s is a fading light blue, and Reed’s is the standard blue of the FF uniform.

AMC Theatres

New look at the Regal exclusive Fantasticar Popcorn Bucket for ‘THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS’. 💙 pic.twitter.com/HzMh9VyUxm

— Fantastic Four Updates (@F4Update) June 4, 2025

But our favorite of the bunch is easily Galactus. It leans into all the Jack Kirby Marvel Comics details of his over-the-top headpiece, and we love it. Also showcasing FF popcorn buckets is AMC’s big competitor, Regal Cinemas, who have their own The Fantastic Four: First Steps popcorn bucket, showcasing the team’s tricked-out ride, the Fantasticar. We honestly just want them all. Although we are surprised there’s not a popcorn bucket of the team’s HQ, the Baxter Building. Or even their iconic rocket ship. But maybe they are holding back a few surprises for Marvel’s First Family.

Originally published June 4, 2025

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Want to Help Save THE WHEEL OF TIME After Its Cancellation? Check Out ‘Save WOT’ Fan Campaign

In the wake of a modern TV show’s cancellation, we get to see what true passion really looks like. Although it’s rare that fan efforts to save canceled shows ultimately succeed, they also sometimes do. And it’s those fan-created victories, combined with the purest of love, that drive fans to continue to petition for a show’s life long after it has been declared officially dead by the powers that be. Sadly, the latest show to get canceled before its time is the beloved fantasy series, The Wheel of Time. After three seasons of the epic adventure, Prime Video elected to cancel the series, not renewing The Wheel of Time for season four. The news, of course, hit its fans, some of whom have cheered on the franchise for decades, incredibly hard. And we’ll wager it only took a matter of hours before the “Save WOT” fan campaign to save the canceled show arose in support of more The Wheel of Time.

If you’re a fan of The Wheel of Time and hope ardently for a season four, here’s what you can do to save The Wheel of Time.

Take Action to Save The Wheel of Time After Its Cancellation Prime Video

If you’re ready to get into the thick of saving The Wheel of Time from its dark fate, you can take action with a fan-created effort called “Save WOT.” You can find the hub of the movement to rescue The Wheel of Time from cancellation on https://savewot.com/. There, The Wheel of Time‘s fans invite you to take action in order to save the show. It turns out there are quite a few things you can do.

Sign the Petition to Save The Wheel of Time

Firstly, you can go ahead and sign the petition to save The Wheel of Time. At the time of this piece’s original writing, the Save WOT petition shares that it has 18,957 signatures, and now, just twenty days later, it has 159,818, and that’s incredible! But it could sure use one more. If you want to register your dismay at The Wheel of Time‘s cancellation, make sure to add your voice to the petition. You can also check out a couple of other petitions to save The Wheel of Time on Change.org (here and here). We recommend first signing the largest petition, but it never hurts to have as many voices as you can.

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TV Shows Canceled In 2025: All the Major Series We’ve Lost So FarCreate a Video Testimonial About Why The Wheel of Time Deserves Season 4

In addition to the petition to save The Wheel of Time and get it to season four, Save WOT invites you to create and submit fan videos in support of the series. Some ideas for what you might share in your video involve discussing why you love The Wheel of Time and why you believe the series deserves a season four and beyond.

Share a Love Letter in Support of the Series

If you prefer a text-based medium, you can also write a love letter to The Wheel of Time, its cast, and its crew. Many fan testimonials are already up on the Save WOT website, and they are truly beautiful, global, and full of love. For example, Carolyn from Australia writes, “As a long-time obsessed reader of the books, I have loved seeing the world and characters come to life, scenes in the Two Rivers, Tar Valon, and The Aiel Waste have been absolutely incredible to see. The quality of the production is amazing and the passion of the cast and crew to tell this story is beyond mind-blowing. The actors chosen are amazing. Maddie as Egwene, in particular, should have gotten an Emmy for her portrayal of her captivity under the Seanchan.”

Finally, Save WOT invites you to amplify news coverage lauding The Wheel of Time‘s first three seasons. And that shouldn’t be very hard to do.

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How THE WHEEL OF TIME Series Fixes The Books’ Major Issues with Women CharactersThe Wheel of Time Fans Already Sent 250,000 Letters In Support of RenewalPrime Video

Although cancellations and resurrections are all complex beasts that involve many financial concerns, rights issues, legalities, and more, The Wheel of Time fans aren’t starting their campaign to save The Wheel of Time from scratch. Even before fans knew for sure that season three of The Wheel of Time would be the show’s final season, they were hard at work on a Renew WOT campaign. In those efforts, The Wheel of Time fans sent over 250,000 letters in support of the show. Hopefully, these proactive efforts will help bolster this campaign now.

Remember, the True ‘Save WOT’ Victory Is the Community You Create Along the Way Prime Video

Whether The Wheel of Time‘s fans can save the show from cancellation or not, their efforts reveal a true strength of heart and gorgeous communal bonds that we know the main characters of The Wheel of Time would be proud to see. As a member of the Save Hannibal efforts for nearly a decade, I can confidently say that although season four of The Wheel of Time would be a welcome gift, the love fans hold in their hearts means that, in time, even if the show remains canceled, community will replace content.

Whether it is saved or not, The Wheel of Time will forever live on in the discussions, creations, and joy the fandom will manifest for years to come. And that’s beautiful. That said, we know the “the wheel weaves as the wheel wills,” and we’ll cross our fingers that it hopes for season four of The Wheel of Time. (And sign the petition!)

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Originally published on May 27, 2025.

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