Universal Pictures has picked up film rights to the late Robert Jordan's bestselling novel series, The Wheel of Time.

According to Variety, adaptations of the fantasy novels will begin with the first book in the cycle, The Eye of the World.

The Wheel of Time follows, among its dozens of characters, Rand al'Thor, the latest incarnation of a force for good called "The Dragon." Rand is born to fight an evil character called Shai'tan.

No production date has been set.