Fourth Wing: Everything You Need to Know About the Anti-Hero Dragon Rider Series!

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The world of literature experienced a significant shift when author Rebecca Yarros introduced her enchanting romantasy novel that left readers spellbound. Titled “Fourth Wing“, this book marks the beginning of Yarros’ Empyrean series, with subsequent releases being “Iron Flame” and “Onyx Storm“. The remaining books 4 and 5 are yet to be published. After the third book was unveiled, the romantic fantasy genre gained immense popularity within TikTok’s BookTok community. “Fourth Wing“, in particular, garnered significant acclaim, being named International Book of the Year 2024 at the TikTok Book awards, climbing to No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and even making its way onto Amazon’s bestseller list. Most recently, it has been chosen by Prime Video for a television adaptation.

Yarros’ fantasy book series revolves predominantly around magic and enchanting creatures like dragons, which have gained widespread popularity, even among stars such as Blake Lively (as seen in the hit fantasy series Game of Thrones). The narrative centers on Violet Sorrengail, a vulnerable young woman with aspirations to master dragon-riding. However, she must navigate the treacherous path at Basgiath War College, avoiding being eliminated by the menacing leader, Xaden Riorson. This high fantasy series delves into magical landscapes while also tackling themes such as power, love, passion, and longing. Let’s explore the details of the Fourth Wing adaptation.

‘Fourth Wing’ Book-to-Series Adaptation

Given Netflix has a reputation for cancelling popular fantasy shows unexpectedly, it’s reassuring to know that “Fourth Wing” is being developed for Prime Video. The production companies involved are Amazon MGM and Outlier Society by Michael B. Jordan. The author of the dystopian fantasy series, Yarros, will serve as a co-producer. Notably, Moira Walley-Beckett, who produced the excellent “Anne With an E” series based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 novel “Anne of Green Gables”, is set to be the showrunner for this new TV series, suggesting that Yarros’ literary work could become an exciting television adaptation.

Due to the massive popularity and viral sensation that “Fourth Wing” has become on BookTok and TikTok with billions of views, it could potentially make Prime Video’s biggest success to date. The coincidence of possible references to Prime Video’s high fantasy series “The Wheel of Time” might be a fortunate sign. Yarros’ novels hint at the goddess of love, Loial, which could be a subtle Easter egg referring to “The Wheel of Time’s” significant character, Loial the Ogier. Although this is a minor link between two highly acclaimed fantasy novel series, there’s optimism that “Fourth Wing” can leverage the success of Prime Video’s series as a stepping stone.

At this point, Amazon’s book-to-series adaptation is still in pre-production stages, with filming yet to commence, so no official release date has been announced.

The Potential Cast of ‘Fourth Wing’

Readers of the Empyrean novel series have a general notion of which actors could bring one of the best fantasy series ever to life on screen. Social media platforms like Reddit, BookTok, and TikTok are buzzing with fan art dedicated to the Fourth Wing, discussions about Violet and Xaden’s relationship, and theories about various aspects of the story. This intense engagement and passion for the Empyrean series have led to a surge in fan cast suggestions for the upcoming Prime Video series, as fans express their ideas on who should be part of the book-to-screen adaptation. The anticipation and excitement surrounding the casting decisions for this series are significant, given the deep connection readers have with the story and characters.

Violet Sorrengail’s role is undeniably crucial, second only to Xaden Riorson’s, and many fans are eager for Mackenzie Foy to bring the fierce dragon rider to life on screen. You might recognize Foy from her notable roles as Renesmee in the acclaimed Twilight series or as Clara in Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. The young actress shares a similar build with Violet, yet her ability to portray the strength of a soldier is undeniable. Danielle Rose Russell from The Originals could also be an excellent choice due to her fair complexion and dark hair, which closely match the description of Violet.

It seems that many enthusiasts of the dark fantasy novels often imagine Alexander Ludwig, known for his role in The Hunger Games, as Xaden. However, this is rather uncommon as the author of Fourth Wing specifically stated she prefers not to have a white actor play Xaden because it doesn’t align with her original vision. As such, Josh Heuston from Heartbreak High and HBO’s Dune: Prophecy has emerged as a strong contender, and he has even expressed interest in portraying the character.

In regards to other possible characters in the mature fantasy with a passionate love story, there could be The 100’s Tati Gabrielle as Rhiannon Matthias, Olivia Colman from Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite as General Lilith Sorrengail, Chicago Fire’s Jocelyn Hudson as Mira Sorrengail, and Dacre Montgomery from Stranger Things as Dain Aetos. It remains to be seen which actors will appear in the Fourth Wing adaptation, but the fans have a strong hunch.

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2025-04-19 00:32