If you were worried about the fate of the Fourth Wing television series adaptation, then we're here to calm your nerves: a new showrunner has been acquired.
It's been a bumpy road to get here. Back in July, nearly two years after the adaptation was first announced, and the then-showrunner, Moira Walley-Beckett exited the Amazon project. Fast forward to September, and her replacement has officially been found, in none other than Locke & Key co-creator, Meredith Averill. So, after what feels like an eternity of speculation, could Fourth Wing finally be heading to our screens?
Brush up on everything Fourth Wing-related, below.
What stage is the Fourth Wing adaptation at?
While the adaptation hasn't officially been ordered for a series, author Rebecca Yaros said during an interview for her new novel that she had read two versions of the script for the upcoming show, adding that she "could not be any happier" with the result.
There's also been hefty speculation about who would be cast in the adaptation, with Australian actor Josh Heuston a fan-favourite for the role of Xaden Riorson. Yaros also weighed in here, saying her only non-negotiable for this part is that it goes to an actor of colour. "I don't have any demands other than the fact that Xaden isn't white," she said.
@sabteenwitxh Replying to @karissacalifornia she didn’t talk about official casting but confirmed Xaden is NOT white #fourthwing #rebeccayarros #onyxstorm #ironflame #booktok ♬ original sound - sab
At this stage, however, no concrete cast has been locked in.
What is the Fourth Wing television series about?
The TV adaptation of Fourth Wing will be based on Yaros' best-selling romantasy book series, The Empyrean novels. Within the multiverse of the Basgiath War College, the empirical rule is simple: Graduate or Die. Violet Sorrengail is our plucky protagonist whose fate becomes inextricably changed when her mother orders her to join the legion of aspiring dragon riders named the elite of Navarre.
Who is involved in making the series?
Moira Walley-Beckett was originally tapped for the role of showrunner. She has previous writing and production experience for AMC's Breaking Bad. Her work has won three Emmy Awards for her work on the show, including the Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series accolade for penning the Season 5 episode, Ozymandias. She also created and showrun Netflix and CBC’s Anne With an E and Starz’s Flesh and Bone limited series. With Walley-Beckett now off the billing, she's been replaced by Meredith Averill. The project would still be in good hands, with Averill credited as the co-creator of Locke & Key.
The series will be jointly produced by Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Productions and Amazon's MGM Productions. Executive producers include Jordan and Outlier president Elizabeth Raposo, along with Liz Pelletier (head of Fourth Wing publisher Entangled Publishing). Outlier Society executive vice president of TV Stefano Agosto will also co-executive produce.
And for those who are a stickler for source material, have no fear: author Yarros will also serve as a consulting producer on-set.
When will the series air?
Right now, everyone's been keeping mum. We'll let you know when you'll get your first glimpse of the Navarre as soon as we do.
What is the 'Romantasy' Genre?
Romantasy, as the name suggests, is a hybrid genre that marries the steamy romance plot with a Lord of the Rings level fantasy backdrop. It's a genre that has spurred an uptick in book sales globally, and spat out a range of new genre classics like A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing.
