Rebecca Yarros’ “Fourth Wing” swept through the fantasy romance realm, captivating readers with its engaging narrative. The inaugural book of the Empyrean series centers on Violet Sorrengail, the general’s daughter and sister to two dragon riders. Initially preparing to become a scribe, she is compelled by her mother to become a rider. The novel traces her journey in the Riders Quadrant, where she struggles to survive and builds a connection with Xaden Riorson, a senior student whose father, a revolutionary, was executed by Violet’s mother. Determined to uncover the secrets of her society, Violet frequently lands in peril as she delves deeper into its past.

Amazon MGM Studios acquired the rights to adapt Yarros’ books for television in October 2023. Initially, Moira Walley-Beckett (“Anne with an E”) was announced as the showrunner in July 2024. However, she was later succeeded by Jac Schaeffer (“WandaVision”) in July 2025. The series is still in its early development phase, and executives are carefully assembling the right team. “We’re hard at work,” Vernon Sanders, the Head of TV for Prime Video, shared with Deadline in July 2025. “We cherish our relationship with Rebecca Yarros, who has been extraordinary, and we’re committed to getting this right.”

The project is still in its formative stages, so casting details are yet to surface. Nevertheless, fans of the Empyrean series likely have their picks for who should feature in the anticipated TV adaptation. Here are five actors we’d be thrilled to see in Amazon’s “Fourth Wing” series.

Violet Sorrengail serves as the central figure of the Empyrean series. Her journey takes readers through her enrollment at Basgiath War College, where she opts for the Riders Quadrant over the Scribe Quadrant she had trained for her entire life. Riders, who generally bond with dragons, have a demanding physical role, something for which Violet is initially unprepared. Despite having only a brief time to train as a rider, and dealing with a connective tissue disorder that occasionally hinders her, she consistently defies expectations by bonding with two dragons and innovating to overcome adversity.

Mackenzie Foy is among the actresses fancast as the younger Sorrengail sibling, a suggestion we wholeheartedly endorse. Foy began her career as Renesmee in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” and has since demonstrated her range in several significant films and series. She gained acclaim as Clara in Disney’s whimsical fantasy “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” delivering a performance that highlights her ability to lead a major production. Disney+ viewers will also recognize her from the 2020 adaptation of “Black Beauty,” based on Anna Sewell’s beloved tale.

Though Foy hasn’t made any public comments on the fan casting, she did share an Instagram story in January 2025, where she was seen reading “Onyx Storm,” the final book in the Empyrean series. Additionally, she follows author Rebecca Yarros on Instagram, hinting that this casting might indeed come to fruition.

Xaden Riorson is the main male character and love interest for Violet Sorrengail. He’s from Tyrrendor, which, some six years prior to the start of the story, rose up in an act that became known as the Tyrrish Rebellion. The rebellion and the province’s push for independence from the Kingdom of Navarre inform a lot of the plot. Xaden, who seemingly hates Violet at first, is working on something with the separatist children that only comes to light later on. He is protective and resolved in his ways, and he’s not the best at opening up, which often causes issues in his and Violet’s relationship.

Australian actor Josh Heuston is a relative newcomer to the industry, but he’s been one of the most popular fan casts for Xaden. After making his debut in the Aussie series “Dive Club” in 2021, Heuston made the leap to the big screen with a minor performance in “Thor: Love & Thunder” (he was credited as Zeus Pretty Boy, which tells you everything you need to know about his chances of landing love interest roles in Hollywood). Audiences might already know him from “Heartbreak High,” where he plays musician Dusty Reid, or HBO’s rushed prequel series “Dune: Prophecy,” in which he plays Constantine Corrino.

Heuston has commented on the fact that fans are speculating about him taking the role of Xaden in Amazon’s “Fourth Wing” adaptation. “I think it’s a great world, the books are great, I’ve read them all now,” he told Marie Claire Australia in April 2025. He also says that Xaden and Xaden’s cousin Bodhi are “both good characters, they have their own signs and signets,” stemming from fans believing he’d do well in either role. He’s fed into the rumors by putting a dragon emoji in his bio on Instagram, where he follows Rebecca Yarros.

Rhiannon Matthias is a member of the Riders Quadrant and Violet’s best friend at Basgiath War College. The two meet early on, before even crossing the parapet, and Violet gives Rhiannon one of her shoes so she has a better chance of making it across. The two help each other in the subjects they struggle in, and Rhiannon is always there for her friend. She’s a determined character, unafraid to show her fighting side when she has to.

Ella Balinska is one of the most popular fancasts for the character. She is known for playing Jane Kano in the 2019 “Charlie’s Angels” alongside Kristen Stewart and Naomi Scott and she later joined the cast of Netflix’s “Resident Evil” series as Jade Wesker. Her time on these action-heavy projects has no doubt prepared her perfectly to play Rhiannon, who has more physicality than Violet. With Conscription Day and the Gauntlet both likely to feature in the show, they’re going to need an actor with experience playing physical roles for Rhiannon, and Balinska fits the bill perfectly.  

Mira Sorrengail is Violet’s older sister and a First-Lieutenant Rider. Mira is on Violet’s side — upset that their mother has forced Violet to be a Rider — so she does everything she can to help. Mira tries to help Violet prepare before she goes to Basgiath, gifting her some rider boots and even having some dragon-scale amor made for her with the scales of her own dragon, something that regularly saves Violet’s life. She is more present in the second book, “Iron Flame,” once Xaden is stationed at the same outpost as her.

Some fans have been pushing for Mira to be played by Adelaide Kane, who you may know from her time as Mary Stuart in “Reign” and as the astrology-loving, no nonsense Dr. Jules Millin in “Grey’s Anatomy.” She’s also appeared in “SEAL Team,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Teen Wolf,” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” On the silver screen, she’s plied her trade in “The Purge,” “The Devil’s Hand,” and “Cosmic Sin.” This would be a great move by the casting directors because Kane would bring the correct mixture of grit and likeability to the role of Mira. Violet’s sister is the image of cool in the series, and Kane definitely has that in her locker.

Ridoc Gamlyn is one of Violet’s peers and friends in the Riders Quadrant. While he may come across as just the comic relief, especially in the second and third books, he will ultimately always stand up for his friends and has no qualms doing what he needs to do to protect them. He’s beloved by fans, so much so that people are worried that he won’t make it through the whole saga (the Empyrean series is “currently plotted for five books total,” according to Barnes and Noble). However, Rebecca Yarros has discussed how Ridoc’s humor will evolve over the next two books in an interview with EmpyreanRiders.com, which would imply he’s safe.

Either way, it’s a great role for someone, and we think that Michael Cimino would be ideal. He’s known for playing the titular character of “Love, Victor” and Zac in the Prime Video series “Motorheads.” He also played humorous characters in “How I Met Your Father” and “Never Have I Ever,” proving that he has the comedic chops to play Ridoc. This is a popular fan cast on TikTok, where users have made compilations of his interviews, highlighting how perfect they think he is for the role because of his natural, easy-going humor. While he hasn’t done anything in the fantasy realm yet, many people are convinced that he’s the right guy for Ridoc.