The Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins says he's "devastated" not to be able to finish the fantasy show's story following its shock cancellation by Amazon.

In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Judkins admitted that he doesn't really know why the streamer pulled the plug on the acclaimed series, which is based on Robert Jordan's book saga of the same name – and that he wishes he "could say something clear and tidy that explains to all those who love it why it's coming to an end."

After celebrating the "talented and wonderful" cast and crew, he went on to point out that The Wheel of Time season 3 spent nearly 20 weeks in the Nielsen Top 10 streaming chart, "a feat few shows have been able to match in the last decade."

Elsewhere, Judkins hit out at the "larger trend in TV toward fewer seasons with less episodes" nowadays, as the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, and other platforms put emphasis on acquiring additional subscribers quickly. "I genuinely believe that this goes against the fundamental strength of television – long-form storytelling. It is an art form, much like epic fantasy, which at its very best, gives people a place to go and spend time with the characters that they love year after year after year." 

Judkins concluded by sharing his hope that The Wheel of Time would find another home elsewhere, noting that one of the reasons he chose Amazon in the first place was that it had recently picked up The Expanse after SYFY axed it. "Who knows, perhaps the Wheel of Time show will do what the books have always managed to do since day one – defy the traditional definitions of 'beginnings' and 'ends'," he wrote. "I certainly hope it does – because this book series and these fans deserve to see the story finished."

Playing fast and loose with the focus and structure of its source material, The Wheel of Time centers on Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), a shrewd magic wielder, who sets out on a dangerous quest to identify the prophesized savior of the world, the Dragon Reborn. While season 1 saw her round up a group of young potentials, season 2 saw the group take on dark forces and ultimately discover that Rand (Josha Stradowski) was the one Moiraine has been searching for. Season 3, which only aired its finale on April 17, explored Rand's inner conflict and the corrupting nature of the One Power.

Since Amazon confirmed it would not be renewing the show for a fourth season, almost 130,000 fans have signed a petition campaigning for it to be saved. According to TVLine, though, there are currently no plans for it to be shopped around elsewhere.

The Wheel of Time is streaming now. For more, check out our picks of the best shows on Amazon Prime Video.

Even in Hollywood, you still have to dot the I's and cross the T's. With that in mind, director James Gunn has given an exciting – and final – update on Superman's production: the DC movie is "100%" done.

"Our last visual effect shot has been finished and dropped into #Superman. We are now 100% done. Thanks to all my collaborators! It has been a joy. And for the rest of you - I can’t wait for you to see the movie July 11," Gunn wrote on Twitter, accompanied by a shot of the director front and centre of a behind-the-scenes image on the Daily Planet set alongside the likes of Superman actor David Corenswet, Lois Lane actor Rachel Brosnahan, and Jimmy Olsen actor Skyler Gisondo.

Superman is set to fully kick off DC Studios' grand plans for a new cinematic universe following the demise of the DCEU. Led by Gunn and fellow co-CEO Peter Safran, the first 'phase' is titled DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

Alongside Superman is Peacemaker season 2 in August, followed by Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow in 2026. Lanterns is currently filming, while a Clayface movie is also in the works.

During an interview on the SmartLess podcast, Warner Bros. chiefs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca revealed that they had seen an early cut of Superman and that Gunn "really understood the assignment."

Whether audiences will have the same reaction remains to be seen, though getting locked in over a month prior to release suggests it's got a fair chance of soaring on the big screen.

For more, check out the new DC movies on the way over the next few years.