Amazon orders 'Fourth Wing' live-action

Prime Video ordered “Fourth Wing” to series on May 11, confirming that Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling fantasy novel is moving ahead as a live-action television adaptation. Amazon MGM Studios announced the pickup during its upfront presentation in New York City, where executive producer Michael B. Jordan appeared onstage with Yarros, showrunner Meredith Averill and producer-director Lisa Joy. The order formalized a project that Amazon first put into development in October 2023, after securing rights to Yarros’ “Empyrean” books. Prime Video has not announced a premiere date, episode count or cast. ### Who is making the series for Prime Video? Meredith Averill is adapting the novels for television and will serve as showrunner and executive producer, according to Amazon MGM Studios. Lisa Joy, the Kilter Films co-founder and an executive producer on the project, is set to direct the pilot episode. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com) Michael B. Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo are executive producing through Outlier Society, while Jonathan Nolan, Joy and Athena Wickham are executive producing through Kilter Films. Rebecca Yarros is also an executive producer, and Liz Pelletier and Sherryl Clark are executive producing through Premeditated Productions. Variety also reported that Outlier executive Stefano Agosto will co-executive produce. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com) ### How long has “Fourth Wing” been in the works? Variety reported on October 30, 2023, that Amazon MGM Studios and Outlier Society had acquired rights to “Fourth Wing” and its sequel “Iron Flame,” along with the remaining planned books in Yarros’ five-book “Empyrean” series. That report said the adaptation was then in development for Prime Video, without a writer or cast attached. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com) Variety reported on May 11, 2026, that the series had first been put into development in October 2023 and had stalled until September 2025, when Averill joined as showrunner after the exit of original showrunner Moira Walley-Beckett. Deadline similarly described the project as long-gestating and said it picked up speed after Averill joined last fall. (variety.com) ### What story is Amazon adapting? “Fourth Wing” is the first book in Yarros’ “Empyrean” series and centers on 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail, who is forced by her mother to enter Basgiath War College and compete to become a dragon rider. Amazon’s press release said the series will follow Violet as she joins hundreds of candidates in Navarre’s rider ranks. (variety.com) Rebecca Yarros’ book franchise began with “Fourth Wing” in May 2023, followed by “Iron Flame” in November 2023 and “Onyx Storm” in January 2025. Deadline reported that the broader plan, if the show succeeds, is to adapt additional novels over multiple seasons; that characterization came from Deadline’s reporting, not from a formal Prime Video release. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com) ### What did Amazon and the producers say at the announcement? Peter Friedlander, head of global television at Amazon MGM Studios, said in the company’s release that Yarros’ series is “one of the most anticipated adaptations in the world” and said the studio was working with its partners to honor what readers loved about the books. Yarros said she was “thrilled” to be working with the team behind the adaptation. (variety.com) Deadline reported that Jordan told the upfront audience the project had needed “the right creative partner,” while Joy said the team was “building a cinematic world.” Those remarks were made onstage at the May 11 event in New York, where Amazon used its advertiser presentation to unveil the order. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com) ### What has not been announced yet? Prime Video said the series will stream in more than 240 countries and territories, but the company has not named actors for Violet or other lead roles. Amazon’s own overview page said it will update the project listing with more details on cast, crew and a release timeline as they become available. (deadline.com) May 11 is the key public milestone so far: that is the date Prime Video confirmed the series order, named Averill as showrunner and Joy as pilot director, and identified Outlier Society, Kilter Films and Premeditated Productions as the producing partners. The next official update is expected to come from Prime Video’s project page or Amazon MGM Studios press materials, where the company said further details will be posted. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com)