Rhiana Franklin Starred in The Pendragon Cycle
Rhiana Franklin leads The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of Merlin, which has secured top viewership rankings.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Language Learning
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Actress Rhiana Franklin has garnered attention for her role as Morgian in The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of Merlin on Amazon Prime. The Daily Wire production has quickly climbed to the number two spot among all television shows in the United States.
Why it matters
The show gained traction by casting unfamiliar actors to help viewers fully immerse themselves in the characters. Its success reflects the broad audience interest in Stephen R. Lawhead’s classic fantasy trilogy.
The series currently holds a number two ranking in the United States and a number three ranking in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Canada. The production was filmed primarily in Budapest, with additional shooting in Italy and Romania.
The players
Rhiana Franklin
She is an actress who graduated from Friday Harbor High and previously appeared in the 2021 film Heist.
Stephen R. Lawhead
He is the author who penned the original Pendragon Cycle fantasy trilogy during the 1980s.
The Daily Wire
This media organization is the producer behind the limited series The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of Merlin.
The details
To prepare for her role as Morgian, Rhiana Franklin learned a fairy language and a specific accent. The production process also required cast members to wear corsets and participate in rigorous physical training.
Timeline
Stephen R. Lawhead wrote the original trilogy during the 1980s.
Rhiana Franklin graduated from Friday Harbor High in 2012.
The actress appeared in the film Heist in 2021.
The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of Merlin has been airing on Amazon Prime throughout October 2026.
Culture Shift
This adaptation of the Pendragon Cycle fantasy trilogy marks a significant modern revival of classic literary fantasy for streaming audiences. It follows the industry-wide trend of converting established 1980s book series into high-budget episodic content.
The show is available for streaming on Amazon Prime, allowing viewers to watch at their convenience. Fans interested in the series can see Franklin's performance after she completed intensive language and accent training for the role.
The takeaway
The production’s reliance on lesser-known talent shows how casting choices can deeply influence audience engagement. The global success of the series confirms a continued demand for high-fantasy storytelling on digital platforms.
Further reading
Discover how actors prepare for complex roles in our Language Learning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Journal of the San Juan Islands.
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