This post contains spoilers from The Wheel of Time Book series.
On December 18th, at 9 AM eastern, Prime Video announced that Olivia Williams, Luke Fetherston, Callum Kerr, and Nuno Lopes will join The Wheel of Time, and be cast as the royal family of Andor. They will be playing Queen Morgase Trakand, Lord Galad of House Trakand, Lord Gawyn of House Trakand, and Lord Gaebril, consort to Queen Morgase. This news confirms some long-rumored castings and upends others.
A Regal Addition: Olivia Williams as Queen Morgase
First thing to note, the confirmation of an actor of Olivia Williams’s stature being cast as Queen Morgase is another feather in the cap of The Wheel of Time. She is a “get”, and an actress with some level of name recognition. Prime Video’s press release describers her character as a Queen who “did not inherit her throne. Rather, when the succession was left without an heir, she waged a brutal war against a half-dozen noble rivals, and thanks to her political savvy and utter ruthlessness, she won.” Despite that, she is described as quite the opposite of a tyrant, being “one of the best queens Andor has ever known.”
Other than perhaps the “brutal war” part, this tracks with the book description of Morgase – very smart, very just, very much interested in doing the best for her kingdom.
A Royal Twist: Luke Fetherston as Galad and Callum Kerr as Gawyn
Also of note, the fans had long rumored Callum Kerr as Galad, and it seems like that was wrong. Luke Fetherston, who this podcast had long mentioned bore a resemblance to Josha Stradowski, will be Galad, and Kerr will be playing Gawyn. However, their descriptions don’t exactly match their book versions.
Lord Galad is described as “a royal prince of Andor and brother to Gawyn and Elayne, Galad is a skilled fighter, famously handsome, and protective of his younger sister.” Lord Gawyn is also a royal prince of Andor, and “older brother to Galad and Elayne. Despite being the first born, he is not the heir to the throne. Andor is a matriarchy, and so the role falls to his younger sister, Elayne.”
So many questions! Why the change to make Gawyn is the eldest brother? Galad is still handsome, but will he be a Whitecloak? Are either of the brothers secretly half-brother to Rand? Is this change indicative of any other changes to their characters?
Friend or Forsaken?
Finally, Nuno Lopes as Lord Gaebril, consort to the queen. “Both her lover and advisor, he assists in overseeing matters political and military. Andor is a matriarchal society, and so his power and influence, though vast, are always second to that of his Queen, to whom his loyalties and services are sworn.”
Not exactly the way I would describe “Gaebril” from the books. It makes me wonder if this perhaps a version of Gareth Bryne, or perhaps this may be an instance of a Forsaken taking the place of an established character…In any case this is a highly intriguing casting announcement.
We'll be discussing this news on our next podcast episode 270. Be sure to listen!!!
Correction: Update by Prime Video that Luke Fetherston is playing Gawyn the younger brother and Callum Kerr is Galad the older brother.
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