The Expanse’s Shohreh Aghdashloo will play Aes Sedai Elaida in The Wheel of Time season 3

The Expanse's Shohreh Aghdashloo will play Aes Sedai Elaida in The Wheel of Time season 3

As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for fantasy series that span decades and captivate audiences worldwide, I must say that the casting of Shohreh Aghdashloo as Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan in Prime Video’s adaptation of Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time” is nothing short of brilliant.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, for over a year now, I’ve been buzzing with whispers about Shohreh Aghdashloo, the talented actress who brought Crisjen Avasarala to life on The Expanse, potentially joining the cast of Amazon Prime Video’s fantastical series, The Wheel of Time. At long last, the cat is out of the bag! The official Wheel of Time account has officially confirmed the news. Today, they revealed that Aghdashloo will take on the role of Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan, an Aes Sedai hailing from the Red Ajah and a significant figure at the White Tower in Robert Jordan’s beloved book series.

“The whispers are true. Shohreh Aghdashloo is officially an Aes Sedai,” they wrote, captioning a picture which reads “Shohreh Aghdashloo is Elaida in The Wheel of Time” over a picture of the Iranian-American actor.

The whispers were true. Shohreh Aghdashloo is officially an Aes Sedai.
— THE WHEEL OF TIME (@TheWheelOfTime) December 11, 2024

Aghdashloo has also jumped into the excitement with her own tweet, expressing, “The cat’s out of the bag now… Who was able to figure it out?

In addition to numerous other media outlets covering Wheel of Time updates, we also reported that rumors were circulating since 2021 regarding Aghdashloo potentially joining the show. Fans speculated she could play Cadsuane, an Aes Sedai character who appears later in the book series. This sparked a conversation between Aghdashloo and showrunner Rafe Judkins on Twitter, leading to discussions about her potential involvement in the series.

Initially, it wasn’t entirely apparent which role Behzad Dabu (Aghdashloo) might assume in the series. However, Judkins hinted that he had long been interested in her, saying, “since 2018, you’ve been a potential choice for a specific character on my mood board.

Beginning in 2023, there were growing signs of Aghdashloo potentially joining the cast. The news site dedicated to The Wheel of Time, WoTseries, reported that she was on set during May of that year for season 3 filming. Later, in September, a YouTube channel specializing in Wheel of Time rumors, WoT Up!, claimed to possess evidence suggesting Aghdashloo was portraying Elaida. Over the years, we’ve been tracking this trail of information.

Her participation in season 3 has been widely known yet unconfirmed, but now it’s delightful to hear the formal confirmation that Aghdashloo will portray Elaida. This announcement follows closely behind the revelation of the season 3 release date and even our first glimpse into the series with its debut trailer!

Who is Elaida in The Wheel of Time?

In the captivating world of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson’s “The Wheel of Time” series, I find myself often at odds with a formidable character named Elaida. As a member of the Red Ajah, she shares her allegiance with Liandrin, much like sisters in the same branch of Aes Sedai. My first encounter with Elaida was in the very first book, “The Eye of the World,” where she served as an advisor to Queen Morgause, the mother of Elayne Trakand. The upcoming third season of the television show is anticipated to introduce not only Elaida but also Morgause and other esteemed members of the Andoran royal family.

But whatever her ties to Andor, Elaida is first and foremost a powerful Aes Sedai. She returns to the White Tower at a critical juncture during the fourth book in the series, The Shadow Rising, which forms the basis for season 3. Elaida’s return to Tar Valon has a massive ripple effect which reaches all the way to the end of the series, as she upends the status quo. We won’t get into all the spoilery details today, but suffice to say we’re expecting a lot out of the character in season 3 and beyond.

I can’t help but feel that Shohreh Aghdashloo is exceptionally suited for this role. While she may be primarily recognized today for her portrayal of Avasarala on The Expanse, Aghdashloo boasts an extensive acting resume, with notable appearances in Star Trek: Beyond and HBO’s Gotham prequel series, where she played the formidable Iranian mobster Nadia Maroni. Her voice is also one of the most distinctive in Hollywood, gracing animated productions like Arcane on Netflix and iconic video games such as Mass Effect. Casting Aghdashloo for The Wheel of Time is undeniably a significant coup since Rosamund Pike was chosen to play Moiraine Damodred.

As a devoted movie fan, I can hardly contain my excitement! In just a blink of an eye, the wait is nearly over as we get to witness the phenomenal Zühra Aghdashloo in her role as Elaida, starting March 13, 2025 with the premiere of season 3 of The Wheel of Time. Be sure to keep an eye on our coverage, as we’ll be diving deep into the series and bringing you all the latest updates if you share our enthusiasm for this captivating show.

2024-12-11 19:41

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