Pendragon Cycle Has Reached Top Five on Prime Video
The seven-part adaptation of the Stephen R. Lawhead book series has climbed into the streaming platform's top charts.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Television
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The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin has secured a position among the five most-watched programs on Prime Video. The seven-episode series, which covers the first two books of the saga, achieved this milestone following its initial release earlier this year.
Why it matters
The show's performance highlights the sustained interest in Arthurian fantasy adaptations that draw from established literary source material. This success underscores the appeal of adapting classic book series for streaming audiences seeking serialized high-fantasy narratives.
The seven-part series is based on books that have been in publication for 39 years and maintains an 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The players
Tom Sharp
He is the lead actor who portrays the primary character after auditioning via a self-taped submission.
Stephen R. Lawhead
He is the author of the original book series that serves as the narrative source material for the television adaptation.
The details
Adapting the novels Taliesin and Merlin, the series stars Tom Sharp, who secured the lead role through a self-taped audition. The show features a central cast including Rose Reid, James Arden, Emree Franklin, Finney Cassidy, Myles Clohessy, and Brett Cooper.
Timeline
The series premiered and aired its seven episodes from January 2026 through March 2026.
The series reached the top five on Prime Video in September 2026.
The third season of The Rings of Power is scheduled to premiere on November 11, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The production follows the broader streaming trend of mining established fantasy literature to build out extensive multi-part franchise offerings. This series positions itself within a competitive landscape dominated by high-fantasy blockbusters produced by major streaming platforms.
Viewers can currently access the seven-part series through their existing Prime Video subscriptions. The show's ranking suggests it will remain a featured recommendation on the service's home interface for the coming weeks.
The takeaway
The success of this adaptation reflects how classic literature continues to provide a reliable foundation for modern streaming hits. Fans of the genre can expect more high-fantasy content to arrive on the platform as the competitive landscape for serialized dramas remains intense.
What happens next
The third season of The Rings of Power is scheduled to premiere on the platform on November 11, 2026.
Further reading
For more news on upcoming releases and show performance, visit our Television section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBR.
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