Prime Video has announced the lead stars for its highly anticipated adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling novel Fourth Wing. According to Deadline, Esther McGregor (BabyGirl, High School) and Emilio Sakraya (Cold Feet, Sixty Minutes) will play Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson, respectively. The pair will lead the fantasy series as the central couple whose relationship develops from enemies to lovers.
The fantasy adventure story follows Violet, a 20-year-old hoping to continue her father’s legacy as a Scribe (historian). However, her plans take an unexpected turn when her Mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, forces her to enroll in the ruthless Basgiath War College.
Violet competes against hundreds of other students. Their goal is simple. They want to earn a spot among the country of Navarre’s elite as Dragon Riders.
Now, away from the comfort of the Archives, where Scribes preserve and document Navarre’s history, Violet must cross the parapet and take on the life-threatening job of a dragon rider. While at Basgiath, she meets Xaden Riorson, a brooding, mysterious cadet whose family is tied to a past rebellion. Xaden possesses the ability to wield shadows.
According to Deadline, ‘The one rule of Basgiath War College is ‘graduate or die.’ Riders without their dragons are as good as dead, and vice versa, which stresses the bond between human and beast formed on Threshing Day.”’
The book series rights were bought in 2023 by Amazon MGM Studios with nothing in development until May 2026, when Amazon MGM Studios finally ordered the series. If the first season succeeds, the entire five-book series is planned to be adapted into multiple seasons. This includes Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm, and two more unnamed novels still in the works.
Additionally, Yarro just released a book of 13 short stories told from the dragon ‘riders’ perspectives. There is no word on whether the TV series will pick up this book.
Meredith Averill (Star-Crossed, Locke & Key) will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Lisa Joy (Reminiscence, Westworld) will serve as director and also executive producer.