Wheel Of Time Animated Series, Films and Game: How Thomas Vu Plans a Franchise Reboot
On a sunlit soundstage that still smells faintly of paint and hot cables, animators unspool concept art and designers rotate a lone character model on screen — the first visible step toward the wheel of time animated series that a new production team says will reframe a decades-old fantasy world. The model, the sketches and an early proof-of-concept rendering are modest stand-ins for what the collaborators describe as a larger, multi‑platform effort.
What will the Wheel Of Time Animated Series and related projects include?
The announced slate brings three categories into view: an animated television series, animated feature films and a new PC/mobile video game. Iwot Studios will develop these projects in partnership with Thomas Vu and Anthony Borquez’s Initiate Entertainment, with iwot Studios leadership Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon participating in production. The new efforts are described as distinct from other previously announced projects tied to the same source material, including a 3D feature titled The White Tower, a live‑action project called Age of Legends, and an open‑world RPG in development at iwot Games Montréal.
Who is leading the new adaptations and what are they saying?
Thomas Vu, producer at Initiate Entertainment and formerly head of creative and IP franchise at Riot Games and an executive producer on Arcane, is a central figure in the partnership. Vu framed the effort as an opportunity to expand the property into interconnected formats: “I see tremendous opportunity in expanding ‘The Wheel of Time’ into fully authentic, integrated, interactive, and animated storytelling experiences. “
Rick Selvage, chief executive officer of iwot Studios and a producer on the prior live‑action series, emphasized Vu’s track record at the intersection of storytelling and technology: “Thomas has consistently demonstrated the ability to scale narrative worlds into global entertainment franchises. His background at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and franchise architecture makes him uniquely suited to help expand ‘The Wheel of Time’ in new immersive formats. We look forward to working closely with Thomas and Anthony as we bring the next chapter of ‘The Wheel of Time’ to audiences around the world. “
How will these projects reach audiences and what comes next?
The team says the video game and animated projects aim to broaden the franchise’s reach and engage fans worldwide, with an explicit focus on building a footprint across multiple platforms and targeting younger audiences as well as long‑time readers. The new projects currently do not have attached streamers or distributors; development and partnership work is under way inside iwot Studios and Initiate Entertainment. Iwot Studios has also announced a joint venture platform with Framestore and continues other development at iwot Games Montréal, signaling a sustained transmedia strategy rather than a single, standalone title.
Anthony Borquez, founder of Grab Games and co‑founder of Grab Labs, joins the partnership bringing expertise in interactive storytelling and immersive experiences. Borquez’s companies focus on integrating AI and interactive design into games and entertainment production, an angle the new team highlights as part of its approach to expanding the franchise.
For fans watching the early artwork and reading the sparse public statements, the immediate question is when these titles will arrive. The production partners have not announced release timelines or distribution plans; the work remains in development as the collaborators refine concepts for the animated series, films and game.
Back on the soundstage, the character model turns slowly on its axis as an animator steps back and taps a note into a tablet. It is a small, deliberate act: a decision about color, posture, expression. Those choices will compound as the team builds a world intended to live across screens and devices. The wheel of time animated series is now one visible thread in a broader tapestry the producers hope will spin outward — a beginning that leaves room for both anticipation and unanswered questions.