Prime Video announces romantasy series

Prime Video used Amazon’s upfront presentation in New York on May 11 to announce a series order for “Fourth Wing,” the television adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling romantasy novel. Amazon MGM Studios said Meredith Averill will adapt the book for television and serve as showrunner, while Lisa Joy is set to direct the pilot. The project gives Prime Video a formal green light on one of the biggest recent fantasy properties to emerge from BookTok and the broader romance market. Amazon said the series will stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. ### Which book did Prime Video actually order? “Fourth Wing,” the first novel in Rebecca Yarros’ “The Empyrean” series, is the property Prime Video put into its 2026 upfront lineup. Amazon MGM Studios identified the show as a romantasy drama centered on Violet Sorrengail, who is forced into the brutal Basgiath War College, where candidates train to become dragon riders. The 12 million-copy figure attached to the announcement refers to worldwide sales for “Fourth Wing,” according to Amazon’s own write-up and entertainment trade coverage published around the upfront event. That sales number helps explain why the adaptation had become one of the more closely watched book-to-screen projects in development at the company. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com) ### Who is making the series? Meredith Averill is the showrunner attached to the adaptation. Amazon said Averill, whose credits include “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Locke & Key,” is adapting the novels for television and will executive produce the series. Lisa Joy is set to direct the pilot and executive produce through Kilter Films, according to Amazon. (aboutamazon.com) The company also named Jonathan Nolan and Athena Wickham as executive producers for Kilter, with Michael B. Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo executive producing through Outlier Society. Yarros, Liz Pelletier and Sherryl Clark are also listed as executive producers. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com) ### How did Amazon unveil it at the upfronts? Michael B. Jordan joined Yarros, Averill and Joy for the onstage announcement at Amazon’s upfront presentation at the Beacon Theatre in New York on May 11, according to Deadline and event coverage published after the presentation. Deadline reported that Jordan announced the series order during the event. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com) Amazon’s press release said the order was announced during its upfront presentation in New York City. The company used the event to showcase a wider Prime Video slate to advertisers, but “Fourth Wing” stood out because it moved from long-running development into an official series order. ### What has changed since the project was first announced? (deadline.com) September 2025 trade coverage had reported that Averill was coming aboard as writer and executive producer on the adaptation. The May 2026 upfront announcement confirmed that process had advanced to a series order and formally identified her as showrunner, while adding Joy as pilot director. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com) Variety and Deadline both described the order as a significant step forward for the adaptation, which had been in development before the upfront event. Neither outlet reported a premiere date in their initial stories on the pickup. ### What do viewers know about release timing and distribution? Prime Video has not announced a release date for “Fourth Wing.” Amazon said only that the series will be available on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, indicating a global rollout once production reaches the release stage. (deadline.com 1) (deadline.com 2) The next concrete milestone is the pilot, with Lisa Joy attached to direct and Averill overseeing the adaptation for Amazon MGM Studios. As of May 17, Amazon’s announcement materials and the initial trade reports had not identified cast members or a production start date. (press.amazonmgmstudios.com)