Fourth Wing has cast its leading couple, and romantasy fans, it’s time to meet them

Perhaps looking to steal our attention from the highly anticipated release of the sixth A Court Of Thorns And Roses novel, Prime Video has officially announced the two leads for its upcoming television adaptation of Fourth Wing. Based on Rebecca Yarros’s bestselling romantasy novel, the adaptation will see Esther McGregor take on the role of Violet Sorrengail, while Emilio Sakraya has been cast as the brooding and enigmatic Xaden Riorson. 

With the casting news already sparking excitement among romantasy fans, all eyes are now on how the beloved characters will be brought to life on screen. From the actors’ previous roles and careers to what we know so far about the upcoming adaptation, there’s plenty to unpack.

Fourth Wing follows Violet Sorrengail, who has spent her entire life preparing to become a scribe, only to be forced by her mother to enter the brutal Basgiath War College. Despite her physical limitations, Violet must compete against hundreds of other candidates for a place among Navarre’s elite: its dragon riders.

Things become even more complicated when she is forced into close proximity with Xaden Riorson, a powerful and ruthless rider whose family has a bitter history with her own. As the son of one of her mother’s greatest enemies, Xaden seems to want nothing more than to see Violet dead. However, there is far more to him than meets the eye, and Violet may have to put her trust in the very person she has every reason to fear if she hopes to survive.

At Basgiath, the stakes couldn’t be higher. With more cadets than dragons, competition is fierce, alliances are fragile, and one wrong move can be fatal. The War College has just one rule: graduate or die. 

You may recognise McGregor from another popular Prime Video book adaptation: she starred as Mirren Sinclair in We Were Liars and also played Nicole Kidman’s daughter in Babygirl. If her surname sounds familiar, that’s because she is the daughter of Ewan McGregor. She appeared alongside her father and sister, Clara McGregor, in Bleeding Love. McGregor has also featured in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

She is currently filming Life Is Strange, an upcoming Amazon series based on the popular video game of the same name, adding yet another exciting project to her growing résumé.

In terms of appearance, McGregor could certainly capture Violet Sorrengail’s look, particularly with her petite frame and intense gaze. We just need to add a little grey to those locks to complete the transformation.

German actor Emilio Sakraya was already a fan favourite for the role of Xaden Riorson. Much like the upcoming The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, it seems the casting team may have been keeping an eye on those TikTok fan edits. Sakraya certainly looks like a promising choice for the shadow-wielding warrior.

Sakraya recently wrapped filming on the third season of Netflix’s One Piece, in which he plays Koza, the leader of a rebel army. His previous credits also include Rhinegold, Tribes Of Europa and Warrior Nun, showcasing his experience across action-packed dramas and fantasy worlds. 

Fourth Wing is the first instalment in Rebecca Yarros’s The Empyrean series, followed by Iron Flame and Onyx Storm. Books four and five have also been confirmed, although neither has an official title or release date just yet. Yarros recently expanded the world further with the novella Threshing Day, which features 13 stories set within the Empyrean universe.

As for the television adaptation, the first season is expected to follow the events of the first novel, with subsequent seasons potentially adapting the later books. Of course, that all depends on the show’s success and whether Prime Video decides to renew it for further seasons.

One question that remains unanswered is whether Threshing Day will have a place in the adaptation. With so much additional material to explore, there’s certainly potential to expand the world beyond the main novels, but for now, fans will have to wait for further announcements. 

There is currently no confirmed release date for Fourth Wing, so fans will have to wait a little longer before the dragons take flight on screen.

Amazon MGM Studios acquired the rights to develop the television adaptation in 2023, but the project wasn’t officially greenlit until May. Given that the series is still in development, a 2028 release seems like a more realistic possibility at this stage, although nothing has been confirmed.

Behind the scenes, the adaptation boasts an exciting production team. The series is being produced by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society, Premeditated Productions and Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy’s Kilter Films. Author Rebecca Yarros is attached as an executive producer, while Meredith Averill will serve as both writer and showrunner.