‘Fourth Wing’ Series Finds Its Violet and Xaden

Prime Video’s adaptation of Fourth Wing has reportedly found its two central dragon riders, with Esther McGregor set to play Violet Sorrengail and Emilio Sakraya set to play Xaden Riorson.

Deadline and Variety reported the casting on Thursday, giving the long-developing fantasy series its most visible step forward yet. Amazon declined to comment to both outlets, so the news arrives through production sources rather than a formal studio announcement.

Two leads for Basgiath War College

McGregor previously appeared in Prime Video’s We Were Liars and the film Babygirl. Sakraya’s credits include Warrior Nun, Tribes of Europa and Those About to Die; Variety also noted that he is due to appear in the third season of One Piece.

The actors will embody the enemies-to-lovers pairing at the center of Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling Empyrean novels. Violet enters the brutal Basgiath War College after her military-general mother orders her to train as a dragon rider instead of pursuing the scholarly life she expected. Xaden is a powerful and guarded fellow rider whose history places him in direct tension with Violet and her family.

The adaptation moves into focus

Deadline identified Meredith Averill as showrunner and executive producer. Her involvement, together with the reported casting of the two leads, gives fans a clearer picture of how the television version is taking shape after years of development attention around the books.

The casting also carries unusual pressure. Violet and Xaden anchor not only the plot but the romance that helped turn the series into a publishing phenomenon, meaning chemistry will be central to how readers judge the adaptation. No premiere date was included in the reports, and Amazon’s decision not to comment leaves further production details—such as the wider ensemble and filming schedule—still to come.

For now, the selection of McGregor and Sakraya marks the clearest sign that the project is shifting from an announced adaptation toward a recognizable television series.