Emilio Sakraya Cast as Xaden Riorson in Prime Video's 'Fourth Wing'

Emilio Sakraya will play Xaden Riorson in Amazon Prime Video's TV adaptation of Rebecca Yarros' bestselling romantasy series "Fourth Wing," Variety has learned. Amazon declined comment on the casting.

Sakraya stars opposite Esther McGregor ("We Were Liars"), who plays Violet Sorrengail. For readers of the books, Xaden is the wing leader — the figure at the center of the series' central romance. Landing him was arguably the adaptation's most-watched casting decision.

Who is Emilio Sakraya?

Sakraya brings a substantial résumé from both his native Germany and the U.S. His credits include "Rhinegold," "Tribes of Europa" and "Warrior Nun." He recently appeared in "Those About to Die" and is set for Season 3 of "One Piece."

The choice signals Amazon's willingness to look beyond Hollywood's usual shortlists for a franchise-scale property. It also gives the show an actor with proven genre experience across streaming platforms.

What is 'Fourth Wing' about?

The series is set inside the brutal world of Basgiath War College, where there is only one rule: graduate or die. Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail expected a quiet life — until her mother, a general in the military, orders her to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become dragon riders, the elite of Navarre.

The premise is part survival story, part romance, which is exactly why the books crossed over from the fantasy shelf into bestseller lists.

How big is the source material?

The Empyrean book series is a genuine publishing phenomenon:

• "Fourth Wing" (May 2023) — a New York Times bestseller
• "Iron Flame" (November 2023)
• "Onyx Storm" (January 2025)
• "Threshing Day" — a novella released this September, telling 13 stories set in the Empyrean universe

Titles and release dates for the planned fourth and fifth books have not yet been announced.

Who is making the show?

Amazon ordered the series in May. Meredith Averill ("Anne With an E") serves as showrunner and executive producer.

The executive producer roster is stacked:

• Kilter Films — Lisa Joy (who also directs the pilot), Jonathan Nolan and Athena Wickham
• Outlier Society — Michael B. Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo
• Premeditated Productions — Liz Pelletier and Sherryl Clark

That's the team behind "Westworld" (Kilter) and "Creed" (Outlier) lending heavyweight production muscle to a dragon-rider romance.

What does this change for the adaptation?

With its two leads now in place, the series can move toward production. The big remaining questions are supporting casting around Basgiath's cadet class and a premiere window — neither of which Amazon has announced.