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Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya cast as Violet and Xaden in Prime Video's Fourth Wing

Prime Video's adaptation of Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing has reportedly cast Esther McGregor as Violet Sorrengail and Emilio Sakraya as Xaden Riorson. Amazon declined to comment, and Deadline cites sources close to production.

5 outlets · 2L · 3C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Deadline
Image: Variety
Image: Screen Rant
Image: The Hollywood Reporter
Image: Collider

1 / 5

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Esther McGregor has been cast as Violet Sorrengail and Emilio Sakraya as Xaden Riorson, the leads of Prime Video's TV adaptation of Rebecca Yarros' novel Fourth Wing, according to Deadline and Variety. Mixed · 2Deadline attributes the news to sources close to production, while Variety says it learned of it itself and that Amazon declined comment; neither reports an official announcement. Mixed · 2Violet and Xaden are enemies-turned-lovers in the books. Violet, 20, is made by her mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, to leave a path toward becoming a Scribe and enter Basgiath War College to train as a dragon rider, where the one rule is "graduate or die."

Centre · 1McGregor's credits include We Were Liars, Babygirl, The Room Next Door and Obi-Wan Kenobi; Deadline adds that she is currently shooting Prime Video's Life Is Strange and is the daughter of actor Ewan McGregor. Mixed · 2Sakraya, a German actor, has credits including Tribes of Europa, Warrior Nun and Those About to Die, and is set to appear in season 3 of One Piece; Deadline says he plays Koza and was a top choice among Fourth Wing fans. Mixed · 2The series was ordered at Amazon in May. Deadline says Amazon MGM Studios acquired the rights in 2023 and that Meredith Averill joined as showrunner in September 2025, with Lisa Joy directing the premiere.

Mixed · 2It is produced by Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's Kilter Films and Premeditated Productions, the sister company of publisher Entangled Publishing. Mixed · 2The Empyrean series has Fourth Wing (2023), Iron Flame (2023) and Onyx Storm (2025) so far, plus the story collection Threshing Day; the fourth and fifth novels are unannounced, and Deadline says the plan is to adapt the remaining books over multiple seasons if successful.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left2 outlets

Framing
Variety leads with Sakraya's casting as Xaden, with McGregor mentioned as co-star, in a fan-addressed tone.
Emphasis
Sakraya's German and US career, the book's premise and publishing dates, and the producers.
Leaves out or plays down
Gives little on McGregor's background and does not mention the multi-season plan.
Charged language
“romantasy”“wing leader”
For example
“Attention, “Fourth Wing” cadets: Amazon Prime Video’s TV adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling romantasy series has found your wing leader.” — Variety

Centre3 outlets

Framing
Deadline reports both leads as a joint casting scoop, based on sources close to production.
Emphasis
Both actors' credits and schedules, plot detail, production history and plans for further seasons.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not note that Amazon declined to comment.
Charged language
“Lightning strikes”
For example
“Lightning strikes as Prime Video has found its leading stars for the upcoming TV series Fourth Wing” — Deadline

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

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