Prime Video’s ‘Fourth Wing’ Officially Finds Its Violet and Xaden

Published Oct 21, 2026, 2:46 PM EDT Chris is a Senior News Writer for Collider. He can be found in an IMAX screen, with his eyes watering and his ears bleeding for his own pleasure. He joined the news team in 2022 and accidentally fell upwards into a senior position despite his best efforts. For reasons unknown, he enjoys analyzing box office receipts, giant sharks, and has become known as the go-to man for all things Bosch, Mission: Impossible and Christopher Nolan in Collider's news division. Recently, he found himself yeehawing along to the Dutton saga on the Yellowstone Ranch. He is proficient in sarcasm, wit, Photoshop and working unfeasibly long hours. Amongst his passions sit the likes of the history of the Walt Disney Company, the construction of theme parks, steam trains and binge-watching Gilmore Girls with a coffee that is just hot enough to scald him. His obsession with the Apple TV+ series Silo is the subject of mockery within the Senior News channel, where his feelings about Taylor Sheridan's work are enough to make his fellow writers roll their eyes. Sign in to your Collider account This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.Fourth WIng is one of the biggest fantasy phenomena out there, it's got dragons and war colleges, enemies to lovers tropes and it's one of the most explosive stories out there. The series from Rebecca Yarros has built a huge following who've fallen in love with Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson. Naturally, that meant whoever Prime Video chose to play them would have some fairly enormous expectations to live up to, but now we know who'll be riding Tairn and Sgaeyl into battle. Prime Video has officially confirmed its two leads for the upcoming Fourth Wing television adaptation, with Esther McGregor (We Were Liars) cast as Violet Sorrengail and Emilio Sakraya (Those About to Die) taking on the role of Xaden Riorson. The announcement follows earlier reports of their casting and comes after a worldwide search to find the actors who will bring two of fantasy publishing's most popular characters to life. Yarros herself celebrated the announcement, praising the production team for its work in finding the right actors to lead the adaptation. "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." Lisa Joy, who will direct the pilot and executive produce the series, was equally enthusiastic about the casting, describing the two stars as "brilliant, magnetic actors." She added, "We cannot wait for the world to see what they will do with these incredible characters." What's 'Fourth Wing' About? The story follows twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail, who was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general — who just so happens to be her mother — has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. 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, including Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. 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. And wouldn't you know it, perhaps Xaden will prove to be something more than just a dangerous enemy? Fourth Wing will stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, although a premiere date has yet to be announced. Stay tuned for more updates.