Prime Video has cast Esther McGregor as Violet Sorrengail and Emilio Sakraya as Xaden Riorson in its upcoming television adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling romantasy novel Fourth Wing, bringing the brutal fantasy world’s central enemies-to-lovers pair to the small screen following the series’ official greenlight this May.
The search for the faces behind Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling novel has come to an end. Sources close to production confirmed that Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya will lead the cast of Amazon’s high-profile fantasy adaptation, stepping into the roles of Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson. The casting represents the first major character reveals for the project, establishing the core dynamic that drove the book to global publishing phenomenon status.
Basgiath War College and the World of Navarre
In the fantasy adventure, twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail expected a quiet life surrounded by books as a Scribe, following in the footsteps of her late father, Asher. Those plans evaporated when her mother, commanding general Lilith Sorrengail, ordered her to abandon the Archives and enter the brutal Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College. There, candidates fight for survival among peers who view weaker competitors as threats to their own chances of bonding with a dragon.
The institution operates under a single, unforgiving mandate: graduate or die.
Within those stone walls, Violet crosses paths with Xaden Riorson, a brooding cadet with shadow-wielding powers and a lineage tied to a rebellious population faction. What begins as lethal hostility between the pair evolves into the intense enemies-to-lovers romance that anchors the entire narrative. Leading up to the official announcements, many fan-casting discussions circulated within the community, with Mackenzie Foy appearing on shortlists as a favorite pick for Violet and Heartbreak High actor Josh Heuston frequently selected by the fanbase for the role of Xaden.
Behind the Scenes at Prime Video
Amazon MGM Studios acquired the television rights to the Empyrean book series in 2023, though the project remained in development until securing an official series order this May. Meredith Averill joined the production as showrunner and executive producer, bringing previous experience from titles such as The Haunting of Hill House, Wednesday, and Anne With an E.
The creative team also includes Michael B. Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo executive producing via Outlier Society, alongside Liz Pelletier and Sherryl Clark representing Premeditated Productions. Author Rebecca Yarros serves as an executive producer on the adaptation. Amazon declined to comment on the casting announcements.
Prime Video has found its leading stars for ‘Fourth Wing,’ the TV series adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling novel.Esther McGregor has been cast as Violet Sorrengail, and Emilio Sakraya will bring to life the character of Xaden Riorson, sources close to production tell… pic.twitter.com/Mh1X8br9mQ
Expanding the Empyrean Universe
The television adaptation arrives as the source material continues to expand across multiple formats. Yarros launched the franchise with the release of Fourth Wing in May 2023, followed by sequels Iron Flame in November 2023 and Onyx Storm in January 2025. The author is currently at work on a fourth novel in the five-book series.
In addition to the main novels, Yarros recently published Threshing Day, a standalone companion novella featuring 13 different stories exploring the perspectives of various other characters on the day they received their dragons. While the franchise has also seen the development of tabletop adaptations, producers have not yet clarified whether material from the companion short stories will appear in the television scripts.
The Backgrounds of the Newly Cast Leads
Both actors arrive at the production carrying extensive television and film credits. McGregor recently appeared in Amazon’s television adaptation of E. Lockhart’s novel We Were Liars and starred in A24’s Babygirl. Her film credits additionally include Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, and she previously appeared alongside her father, Ewan McGregor, and sister, Clara McGregor, in the 2023 SXSW world premiere of Bleeding Love.
He recently completed work on the third season of Netflix’s One Piece, where he portrays the rebel leader Koza, a casting choice that made him a favorite among many book fans hoping to see him land the role of Xaden.
Prime Video has not yet announced a formal release date for the series.
Emilio Sakraya & Esther McGregor will star as Xaden Riorson & Violet Sorrengail in the ‘FOURTH WING’ TV series.Coming soon to Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/JCXF2JI5zO
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Esther McGregor has officially been cast as Violet Sorrengail in Prime Video’s ‘FOURTH WING’ series.(https://t.co/uOT2nkj8jw) pic.twitter.com/mu6UOFKrCg
