If you’ve been anywhere near BookTok in the past year, you already know the grip Fourth Wing has on readers. Rebecca Yarros’ dragon-riding, enemies-to-lovers fantasy stormed bestseller lists and social media feeds with a vengeance, and now it’s getting the screen treatment, thanks to Prime Video.
Whether you’re Team Xaden or still processing what happened at the end of Iron Flame, the hype around the upcoming adaptation is very real. We’re talking about one of the most addictive fantasy sagas of recent memory, loaded with danger, dark academia vibes, slow-burn romance, and, oh right, dragons that literally choose their riders. It’s giving Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones, with a Gen Z edge and a heroine who’s fragile, fierce, and wholly unforgettable.
What’s even better? Rebecca Yarros is heavily involved in the show. She’s seen scripts. She’s excited. She’s not letting anyone mess with her world, and we love that. While casting details are still under wraps, fans are already speculating (and manifesting their dream Xaden). The dragons may be sleeping for now, but trust us, they’re about to roar on screen, and it’s going to be a whole event.
Fourth Wing adaptation with a savvy production team
When Prime Video announced it was adapting Fourth Wing into a TV series, the internet did not stay calm, and for good reason. This isn’t just another fantasy book getting optioned and forgotten. This is Prime teaming up with Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society, a production company that actually gets genre storytelling, to bring Rebecca Yarros’ dragon-scorched world to life. And let’s just say, the expectations are sky-high.
Moreover, Moira Walley-Beckett, the Emmy-winning genius behind Breaking Bad and Anne with an E, is running the show. That’s a major power move. She’s known for turning emotionally rich, character-driven stories into binge-worthy gold, and she’s already deep into the world of Basgiath War College. Scripts are being written, and Yarros has seen them. She’s not just a passive name in the credits either; she’s onboard as an executive producer, making sure nothing gets lost in translation.
And it’s not just about pretty visuals and dragons (though, yes, please). The team has a full five-book arc to pull from and is planning the long game. So, no rushed arcs, no half-baked worldbuilding, this is a full-on saga in the making. Buckle up, riders.
Rebecca Yarros is fully involved and excited
When it comes to adaptations, authors often get sidelined, but not Rebecca Yarros. She’s not just handing over Fourth Wing and hoping for the best. She’s executive producing right alongside Michael B. Jordan and his Outlier Society team, and she’s making sure the magic of the Empyrean series doesn’t get lost in translation. Yarros has skin in the game and dragons in the sky.
During her press tour for Onyx Storm in early 2025, Yarros confirmed to Variety that she’s already shared the full five-book arc with the show’s writers. That means the team isn’t just winging it (pun very intended), they’ve got the big picture, the major twists, and the long-game structure locked in. While the fine details of Books 4 and 5 are still in the works, Yarros said they’ve been given “the general big points of what happens in between each book,” with her plotting board now in full swing to shape the rest.
As for the pilot, she’s read multiple drafts and was obsessed. “It really is phenomenal,” she gushed. Yarros shared that she was so excited while reading that she literally couldn’t sit still. She described the experience as pure joy, with no edits needed and no concerns. Handing over her book baby was nerve-wracking, but Moira Walley-Beckett completely understood the assignment, capturing everything that matters about the story.
Who will be our Xaden?
There are no official casting announcements yet for the Fourth Wing adaptation. But author Rebecca Yarros has made it clear that a person of color will portray the pivotal role of Xaden Riorson. “We’re just going to say he’s POC; we’re just going to leave it at that,” Yarros told Variety in November 2023. She explained her decision to keep her character vision broad, noting that she avoided reacting to fan portrayals. She emphasized her goal to make sure that the role is open to diversity.
Meanwhile, fan theories are gaining traction around Australian actor Josh Heuston, who has been speculated to be in the running for either Xaden or Bodhi. Known for The Last of Us, Dune: Prophecy, and Heartbreak High, Heuston is of Anglo-Sri Lankan heritage. He was recently drilled about the buzz while promoting The Last of Us season 2.
When asked by Bravo Australia if he was playing Xaden, he gave a coy smile and said, “You have to ask the scribes, I suppose.” As the interviewer teased, she’d start calling him Xaden anyway, he joined in the fun and said he liked the nickname. While nothing is confirmed, the casting conversation is very much alive, and fans are watching closely.
So what’s the plot?
Set at the brutal and elite Basgiath War College, Fourth Wing follows Violet Sorrengail, a young woman who was meant for a quiet life in the Scribe Quadrant, until her war-commanding mother demands she compete to become a dragon rider instead. What follows is a high-stakes training ground full of lethal trials, deadly rivals, and magical bonds with dragons that don’t hesitate to incinerate the unworthy.
Thrown into this deadly new world, Violet has to outwit stronger cadets, survive combat lessons designed to weed out the weak, and navigate shifting alliances, including a dangerously magnetic one with Xaden Riorson, a top cadet whose past is tied to a rebellion that cost her family dearly. But something far more sinister is unfolding beyond Basgiath’s walls, and Violet quickly realizes surviving the college might only be the beginning.
With epic battles, slow-burn romance, and dragons who pick their own riders, Fourth Wing is set to blend fantasy thrills with sharp emotional stakes, making it one of the most anticipated book-to-screen adaptations in years.
When will Fourth Wing release?
There’s no official release date yet for Fourth Wing on Prime Video, but production is well underway. With the pilot already written and casting likely in motion, fans are hopeful for a late 2025 premiere. The series is being fast-tracked due to its massive fan base and the viral popularity of the books.
While we wait, the third book, Onyx Storm, is already out and showrunner Moira Walley-Beckett seems just as obsessed as readers. So hang tight, Basgiath is coming, and it’s going to be fiery.
You can currently read the Fourth Wing books on Audible and Kindle.
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