It’s no secret that many of us are obsessed with romantasy these days. Whether it’s dragon or fairy smut that’s your tipple, hordes of readers are hooked on these magical (and importantly, very saucy) worlds.
If you’re fan of the genre, you’re in luck. The cast of the hotly anticipated adaptation of Fourth Wing on Amazon Prime has finally been announced. For those who might not be fully plugged into this mystical universe, Fourth Wing is the first novel in The Empyrean series from author Rebecca Yarros and focuses on a magical war college where cadets learn to bond with and ride dragons.
Ever since the book was published in 2023, readers have been dreaming up who might play enemies-to-lovers Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson. Well, now they have their answer, and we don’t think they’ll be disappointed. German actor Emilio Sakraya will be dragon riding heartthrob Xaden Riorson alongside British star Esther McGregor.
Want to find out more about your new lead man Emilio? Here’s what we know about the actor.
Who is Emilio Sakraya?
Emilio Sakraya is a German actor and musician. He was born in Berlin, Germany, to a Moroccan-German mother and Serbian father.
Starting out his acting career at the age of nine, Emilio appeared in commercials and in 2010 made his film debut in German biographical drama Zeiten ändern dich. In addition to his acting career, Emilio is also a singer. He released his debut single, Down by the Lake, in 2016, followed by his first album, Roter Sand, in 2020.
How old is Emilio Sakraya?
Born 29 June 1996, Emilio is 30 years old.
Who does Emilio Sakraya play in Fourth Wing?
Xaden has been cast as one of the lead roles in Fourth Wing. The series is based on the 2023 fantasy novel by Rebecca Yarros.
In the books, Xaden is described as the brooding wing leader of the Fourth Wing at Basgiath War College. At the start, he hates Violet because of some deep-rooted family drama, but soon that tension turns into a steamy love affair.
He’s long been a fan favourite choice for the role, after he sparked speculation that he might involved by sharing an Instagram post with a dragon emoji in the caption last year. Fans also clocked that he followed Yarros.
On X, a user wrote, ‘he looks like he stepped out of a fan edit’, while another commented, ‘that’s my wingleader’. Safe to say, BookTok readers are gassed to have Emilio as the lead.
What else has Emilio Sakraya starred in?
Starring in shows in Germany and internationally, Emilio’s acting credits include sci-fi series Tribes of Europa, Netflix fantasy Warrior Nun, action film Sixty Minutes, and historical drama Those About to Die.
He’s also set to star in upcoming spy thriller Fortitude alongside Michael Sheen and Nicolas Cage.
Is Emilio Sakraya in a relationship?
Currently, Emilio appears to be single. The actor is pretty private about his love life, but he hasn’t been spotted publicly with a new partner.
Who has Emilio Sakraya dated previously?
You might remember Emilio from some PDA pics with Spanish pop star Rosalía. The couple sparked romance rumours when they were seen kissing in Munich and then in Spain last year. Neither party publicly confirmed their relationship, so we can assume they quietly went their separate ways.
Before Rosalía, Emilio was in a relationship with German actress Sonja Gerhardt.
Does Emilio Sakraya have children?
Yes, Emilio has a son, which he previously kept private until the reveal came in his song ‘Cacio e Pepe’. He sings, ‘Even though I’m spending a free hour in the mountains with my son and we’re holding hands.’
‘I always kept it a secret that I have a son because it’s the one thing I wanted to experience and learn about privately and not share with the public,’ he told German outlet Zeit. ‘But I’ve now decided to go public with it once, so I can fully enjoy fatherhood and not have to constantly worry about being seen when I’m out with the baby.’