Thats just really cool.
How does the level of excitement around the series feel?
Has it sunk in?
Does it feel like youre in your own little bubble?
MARCUS RUTHERFORD: Honestly, just doing this today has ramped it up.
Weve been in our bubble in Prague for quite a long time.
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We started shooting in August 2019, and weve stopped and started.
Weve hidden away in this little bubble, not really knowing what to expect.
Its lovely that people are finally getting a chance to see it.
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I guess we forgot a bit that there was an end product of an actual TV show.
Were getting a lot of time to get used to this.
This whole thing is absolutely epic.
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When this project came your way, what most excited you about it?
Was there an aspect of the genre?
Was it something about the story?
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Was it your specific character that you were most interested in?
I was realized what a character it was.
I was aware of his arc and that he was one of the central figures in this story.
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RUTHERFORD: Everything that weve seen, the scale of it is what blew me away.
When did you guys meet each other?
Youre working with a smaller ensemble within the bigger ensemble of actors.
RUTHERFORD: I auditioned a bit earlier in the UK.
Maddie [Madden] was there as well.
Im not just saying this now, but I remember thinking, That guy.
Theres a guy in the corner whos being quite quiet and hes just got a particular energy.
That was the first time we met.
STRADOWSKI: I feel really fortunate that the chemistry is that good.
It had to do with the casting as well.
It was like a big summer camp.
Did you read the books?
Did you do some other punch in of research?
RUTHERFORD: I started looking at like the whole world itself and Robert Jordans work.
It was so helpful to have that source material.
STRADOWSKI: It was the same for me.
When I got the part, I just went as deep as I possibly could.
We only had one month and it felt quite a lot for such a huge amount of material.
The only thing you might do is take it step by step.
I tried to read all of them.
I always felt at home with the scripts.
Thats where I find my intuition.
How much were you told about ahead of time?
STRADOWSKI: As we went along, we got more bits and pieces.
They were also still writing and rewriting the scripts that were ahead of us.
We obviously had conversations about it with Rafe.
RUTHERFORD: We knew that it wasnt gonna just follow a one season, one book structure.
The characters might come in at different points, but it has to [change].
When youre moving from books to TV, its quite hard to throw in everything at once.
You have to establish a lot of characters and theyre so beautifully written in the books.
This is a massive world building series.
Is there anything that most helped you get into the world and the character when you got on set?
RUTHERFORD: For me, personally, its the sets themselves.
Theyre a bit mind blowing.
Its quite hard not to feel like youre there, when all of thats been created around you.
The costumes are really helpful as well, but the sets have been mind blowing.
STRADOWSKI: It definitely encourages you.
Then, you just go back to the essence.
You just respond in a way that you think is the essence of the character.
Josha, what do you most enjoy about exploring the dynamic between Rand and Egwene?
Theres such an interesting dynamic to them.
How important is that relationship?
What can you say about what well see from them this season?
Its something theyll have to use on their dangerous journey.
Pretty early on, we see some horrific creatures show up and slaughter a whole bunch of people.
It feels like that really sets a mood and tone for what the series will be.
What was all of that like to shoot?
RUTHERFORD: It was big.
Uta [Briesewitz], the director, was so well-equipped for something as demanding as that.
We all had our separate sequences.
Rosamund [Pike] and Daniel [Henney] did a lot of night shoots to get their bit.
It was quite good to have a first episode like that, that sets the tone for the audience.
Its quite idyllic at the start, with this beautiful village thats quite innocent and naive.
And then, all of a sudden, this darkness comes in.
You get a real sense of whatThe Wheel of Timeis, from those two aspects.
Marcus, something happens with Perrin during that sequence that he clearly feels guilt for.
How much will that weigh on him, during his journey?
Is that something that hes going to continue to think about?
Will that shape who he is?
RUTHERFORD: For those who do know the books, Perrin has a particular relationship with violence.
Hes a gentle giant, but violence is something that he struggles with.
That experience, quite early on, shapes his behavior, going through Season 1.
Its quite refreshing to have someone constantly think, Should we be violent?
Should we be doing this?
Is there a point to this?
Is that the only resolution?
Thats definitely something that Perrin will be embracing, as the seasons go on.
Josha, what do you think would most surprise viewers about what it takes to make this show?
What cant we see just from watching it?
STRADOWSKI: Theres so much you cant see.
Weve been doing this for two years.
Weve been through a pandemic.
Weve been shut down twice.
You have to see the story and not the person behind that character.
The Wheel of Timeis available to stream at Prime Video.
