Prime Video has selected Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya to star as Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson in the upcoming television adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ fantasy novel.
Key facts
- •Esther McGregor, known for her role in We Were Liars, will play Violet Sorrengail.
- •Emilio Sakraya, whose credits include Those About to Die and Warrior Nun, will portray Xaden Riorson.
- •The series is based on the 2023 New York Times bestseller Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
- •Meredith Averill serves as the showrunner and executive producer for the Prime Video adaptation.
- •The Empyrean series is planned as a five-book collection, with three volumes already released.
Prime Video has cast Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya to lead the television adaptation of the bestselling fantasy novel Fourth Wing. McGregor will portray the protagonist, Violet Sorrengail, while Sakraya will play the role of Xaden Riorson. The series, based on the first book in Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series, is currently in development for Amazon Prime Video.
Production and Creative Team
The series is being developed by Amazon MGM Studios, which acquired the rights to the Empyrean book series in 2023 and officially greenlit the project in May. Meredith Averill serves as the showrunner and executive producer, having joined the production in September 2025. The project features a broad team of executive producers, including Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan of Kilter Films, Michael B. Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo of Outlier Society, and Liz Pelletier and Sherryl Clark of Premeditated Productions. Lisa Joy is set to direct the series premiere.
Story Premise
The narrative follows 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail, who originally intended to become a Scribe in the kingdom of Navarre. Her plans are interrupted when her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, forces her to enter the Basgiath War College to train as a dragon rider. The environment is described as brutal, operating under the rule of 'graduate or die.' Within the college, Violet encounters Xaden Riorson, a powerful cadet with shadow-wielding abilities, with whom she develops an enemies-turned-lovers relationship.
The Empyrean Series
Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series currently consists of three published titles: Fourth Wing (2023), Iron Flame (2023), and Onyx Storm (2025). The author has planned a total of five books, with the fourth currently in development. Additionally, Yarros released a novella titled Threshing Day in September, which features 13 short stories set within the same universe. The production team intends to adapt the novels over multiple seasons, provided the series proves successful.
Timeline
- 2023Amazon MGM Studios acquired the rights to the Empyrean book series.
- May 2025Amazon officially greenlit the television series adaptation.
- September 2025Meredith Averill joined the production as the showrunner and executive producer.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Deadline, Variety, Hollywood Reporter.
