Fourth Wing series finally casts Violet and Xaden for highly-anticipated Prime Video adaptation

This is not a drill! After much speculation and fan casting, Prime Video's Fourth Wing series has officially cast its Violet and Xaden.

Esther McGregor (We Were Liars) is set to take on the role of Violet, the 20-year-old whose life is thrown into chaos when her mother orders her to become one of several hundred candidates attempting to become dragon riders at Basgiath War College.

Meanwhile, Emilio Sakraya (One Piece) will portray Xaden, a third-year cadet who has a complex relationship with Violet.

Based on the wildly popular novels by Rebecca Yarros, the Fourth Wing series was ordered by Prime Video in May this year, although it's been in development for a couple of years. Locke & Key co-creator Meredith Averill will be showrunning after Moira Walley-Beckett left the show last year.

Yarros is listed as one of the executive producers, which suggests the series is set to be pretty faithful, while Michael B Jordan is also on board.

There are plenty of details still to come, including more casting announcements, but fans will no doubt be delighted to finally have their Violet and Xaden confirmed.

Meanwhile, the plot details of the series are still to be confirmed, but the synopsis for the book of course gives us some idea.

It reads: "With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

"Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret."

Watch this space for more announcements!

Fourth Wing is coming soon to Prime Video.

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Authors

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.