Fourth Wing author Rebecca Yarros delivers her verdict on unveiled Violet and Xaden castings

Fourth Wing author Rebecca Yarros has spoken out for the first time after the news that her beloved characters Violet and Xaden have been cast for the Prime Video series - and it seems she's very happy.

It's officially been confirmed that 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.

Giving her take on the news, Yarros said: "I’m so grateful to our producing and casting team for conducting a thorough, worldwide search to find Violet and Xaden. It will be incredibly exciting to see these talented actors, Esther and Emilio, bring our beloved characters to life on screen."

Executive producer Lisa Joy added: "Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya are brilliant, magnetic actors. We cannot wait for the world to see what they will do with these incredible characters."

Meanwhile, Peter Friedlander, head of global television at Amazon MGM Studios, said: "Few stories have inspired the kind of passionate, worldwide fandom that Rebecca Yarros has built with Fourth Wing, and we know just how much Violet and Xaden mean to readers. Esther and Emilio are rare and exceptional talents who bring something truly special to these iconic roles."

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.

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."

Yarros's Empyrean series, which so far consists of three books (with another two planned), has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

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.