A TV adaptation of the fantasy book Fourth Wing is currently in progress, raising questions about who will be cast to star as the book's many fascinating characters. Author Rebecca Yarros has announced the Empyrean series will span five books, with two currently available. In collaboration with Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society, Amazon MGM Studios has secured the rights to adapt Fourth Wing and its sequel, Iron Flame, into a TV series. However, the crucial casting decisions remain unannounced, a key aspect in successfully adapting any book.

Fourth Wing quickly became a hit on TikTok's BookTok community and reached the top of the New York Times bestseller list within 13 weeks. It is also one of the highest-rated books on Goodreads. The plot centers around Violet Sorrengail, a 20-year-old thrust into the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College by her mother to train as a dragon rider. With such a large fan base, it's crucial to cast Amazon's Fourth Wing TV show carefully so as to meet readers' expectations and avoid disappointment.

15 Madelaine Petsch as Andarna (Voice)

Petsch starred as Cheryl Blossom in Riverdale

Madeline Petsch is best known for her role as Cheryl Blossom, the chaotic, 'kill-them-with-kindness' mean girl from Riverdale. Petsch's excellent portrayal of feigning innocence in the show is played up by her ability to pretend to be sweet. She very quickly became a fan-favorite in the series for her antics.

Petsch's voice, coupled with her proven talent for portraying compelling characters, makes her an excellent choice for bringing the charming gold dragon to life.

Although this was used for manipulation purposes in Riverdale, Petsch's sweet and high-pitched voice would be perfect for Andarna in Fourth Wing. Petsch's voice, coupled with her proven talent for portraying compelling characters, makes her an excellent choice for bringing the charming gold dragon to life.

While there can be a tendency to give voice actors to mystical creatures who are able to sound older, wiser, and command a sense of gravitas with their tone, Andarna is a relatively young dragon who waited 640 years to hatch. She needs an actor who has a youthful presence in their voice, making Petsch a great choice.

14 Idris Elba as Tairn (Voice)

Elba starred as DCI John Luther in the BBC series Luther.

It's surprising that Elba's resume isn't stacked with as much voice-over work as it is live-action work. He might be known for his dramas, but he has arguably one of the most distinctive voices on screen today. Idris Elba is the perfect choice to play Tairn, the ancient, battle-hardened dragon from Fourth Wing. Tairn helps to raise Andarna, and they both end up bonding with Violet, though it's previously been unheard of for a human to bond with more than one dragon.

Idris Elba's movies and TV shows have consistently showcased his deep and captivating voice. It perfectly aligns with Tairn's century of wisdom and battlefield experience, giving an authoritative and commanding tone that embodies the dragon's no-nonsense attitude. Elba's voice, with its rich timbre and British accent, adds an extra layer of sophistication that would make Tairn a true character.

13 Ella Balinska as Rhiannon

Balinska starred as Jane Kano in Charlie's Angels.

Ella Balinska has demonstrated that she knows exactly how to handle an action role. Starring as one of the three formidable angels in Charlie's Angels (2019) and in Netflix's live-action adaptation of Resident Evil, it's fair to say she knows a thing or two about action sequences. It's unfortunate that neither of the projects were particularly well-received by audiences because the casting for both was fantastic. Ballinksa, in particular, stood out in both as a fierce fighter.

This makes her perfect for the role of Rhiannon, as the cadets of Basgiath War College evade death every single day. A lot of the training scenes in Fourth Wing focus on hand-to-hand combat. An experienced action star, Balinska would be able to handle the scenes without any issues. With Rhiannon as the one who takes the lead in helping train Violet in hand-to-hand combat, an actor with fight experience would be a good get for the movie.

12 KJ Apa as Dain

Apa starred as Archie Andrews in Riverdale.

Best known for his role as Archie Andrews in CW's Riverdale, KJ Apa is an ideal pick to play Dain. In Fourth Wing, Dain's alliances are unclear, which could set him up as a potential villain in the later books. Of course, Dain is also Violet's best friend since childhood as the two grew up together with military parents and traveled together. An actor who can have a convincing rapport with his costar immediately is needed for the role. Apa is familiar with that thanks to Riverdale, where Archie's best friends have been with him his entire life.

Throughout Riverdale, Apa adapts to the evolving nature of Archie's character. He navigates the transition from a more innocent, dreamy teenager to a more complex, sometimes brooding individual facing serious challenges. This showcases Apa's range as an actor and his ability to portray nuanced characters, which Dain could prove to be.

11 Abbie Hern As Imogen

She Played Princess Bess In My Lady Jane

Abbie Hern could be described as an up-and-coming actor even though she’s been acting for years. Many of her roles have been in short films or as ing players. Her most recent role is as an alternate history version of Elizabeth I in My Lady Jane, Princess Bess.

Princess Bess, however, isn’t the role that makes Hern’s fit for Imogen clear. Instead, that’s her role as Mae in Enola Holmes 2. There, she is alternately hard and caustic as well as loyal and protective. Mae keeps her best friend’s secrets until she is murdered from them in the Netflix movie, but Hern plays Mae as a fierce young woman who knows how difficult it is to survive in a society that will do anything to silence dissenters. That is Imogen.

Imogen is the child of rebels who was conscripted into the Riders Quadrant. She’s a little older and wiser than Violet and her friends, but she’s also much more caustic than them, understanding the world around her better than they do. Imogen also proves herself a fierce fighter and an incredibly loyal friend, someone who softens to Violet when she realizes they aren’t actually enemies. Hern would be able to play her flawlessly.

10 Alexander Ludwig as Jack

Ludwig starred as Cato in The Hunger Games.

It's hard to think of a better choice for a character that's all about hunting down and killing the protagonist than Alexander Ludwig, and that's all thanks to his frightening portrayal of Cato, the arrogant and lethal leader of the career tributes in The Hunger Games. Ludwig is excellent at embodying a menacing appearance on screen. While, by all s from co-stars and reporters, Ludwig is a nice guy in real life, he's great at playing a villain.

As well as Ludwig's intimidating portrayal of Cato, he also starred as Bjorn in the hit series Vikings. Anyone terrifying enough to convincingly play a Viking is more than capable of capturing Jack's viciousness. Jack isn't just vicious though. He's also arrogant and a masterful combatant. He's actually responsible for most of the deaths of fellow cadets who end up killed during training because he believes that anyone who lacks physical strength shouldn't be part of the Riders Quadrant.

9 Jarod Joseph As Ridoc

Joseph Is Best Known For Nathan Miller In The 100

Jarod Joseph has been one of the hardest-working actors in Canada for more than a decade. He got his start with a small role in Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and hasn’t looked back. His longest-running role, however, was as Nathan Miller in the sci-fi series The 100, which works as a great demonstration of his ing work and his ability to perform in choreographed action scenes.

Ridoc needs an actor who can be a ive friend, a fierce fighter, and freely exhibit plenty of sarcasm. Joseph’s role in The 100 proves that he can excel in all of those areas. With his variety of projects in the past like romances, comedies, and sci-fi, a fantasy epic would provide him with a whole new world to explore.

The downside might be that, despite Joseph’s youthful appearance, he is older than the target age range for Ridoc, who is only a second-year student. The casting director might want to go younger, with someone in their twenties, instead of someone approaching 40.

8 Calam Lynch As Sawyer

He Appears In The 2024 Series Sweetpea

Calam Lynch has been active in the British film and television industry for the better part of a decade, and most of his work has been in ing roles. British television fans might recognize him from the comedy Derry Girls, the period romance Bridgerton, or the miniseries Archie. He’s also appearing in the 2024 dark comedy Sweetpea.

His roles haven’t been action-heavy, so appearing in a fantasy that requires him to wield a sword and ride a dragon would likely be an education, but Lynch could have fun with the role of Sawyer. The role as the repeat first-year student who helps teach Violet combat skills and becomes Ridoc’s best friend could help him stand out in the British TV landscape. The character is often the straight-man to Ridoc’s comedy as a leader among the students and someone who is often calm and collected in the face of the hot-heads around him.

7 Evangeline Lilly as General Sorrengail

Lilly stars as Hope van Dyne in the MCU.

Evangeline Lilly is well known to audiences thanks to her work in the MCU. First appearing in Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly stars as Hope van Dyne, the tough, smart, and fearsome scientist who's well-trained in martial arts. Her time playing the hard-as-nails, resilient character means she is a great pick for the role of General Lilith Sorrengail.

Lily is more than capable of taking on the role of General Sorrengail.

In Fourth Wing, General Sorrengail is the leader of the Navarre army who is able to wield the power of storms, making her a formidable force. With her experience portraying strong characters, Lily is more than capable of taking on the role of General Sorrengail.

As perfect as Lily would be for the role, she has also announced her desire to retire from acting, leaving her role in the MCU up in the air as well as any potential future projects if she decides to make that retirement permanent.

6 Lena Heady As General Sorrengail

Heady Is Famously Cersei Lannister In Game Of Thrones

Because Evangeline Lilly has announced her desire to retire from acting and spend more time with her family, her fancasting as the General will likely never come to . While there are many actresses who can channel the strength of a military commander and the protective instincts of a mother, Lena Heady would also be a great pick for the role.

Her life has hardened her, and the audience needs to be able to see who she used to be.

Heady has a huge body of work behind her, but she’s best known for the fierce Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. That’s just one picture of her work, and her talent, that makes it clear she would be a formidable General Sorrengail. The character needs to be fearsome and structured, inspiring loyalty among her students. She also, however, has to be able to hint at her softer past. Her life has hardened her, and the audience needs to be able to see who she used to be. Heady would be perfect.