While countless romantasy lovers eagerly await the The Empyrean series, although there’s one essential detail relating to the marked one, Xaden Riorson, that seems to be consistently ignored in fan casting of the emotionally complex character. With Amazon and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society adapting the series for Prime Video, this is a great opportunity to correct a common misconception.
Yarros herself is on board as an executive producer on the series, although as a non-writing contributor, it’s hoped that she will be able to ensure the show gets all the important character details correct. Fourth Wing and its sequels, Iron Flame and Onyx Storm, have gained massive popularity, and the strong characterization of Yarros' writing has turned Empyrean into a the Fourth Wing show should be a faithful adaptation that respects the characters’ backgrounds.
Amazon's Fourth Wing Show Must Cast A Person Of Color As Xaden
Fourth Wing Literally Describes Xaden’s Appearance As A Tawny-Skinned Man
Although casting details of Amazon’s Fourth Wing series have not been formally announced, Yarros' books provide detailed descriptions of characters’ appearances, and the show must respect this. While it’s normal for things to change as a series is adapted from the book to screen, such as Game of Thrones’ Tyrion Lannister being described as hideously deformed in the books but being played by a less scarred and more handsome Peter Dinklage, this change maintained the character’s essential nature as it did not undo Tyrion’s dwarfism. By whitewashing Xaden’s character, an important aspect of his heritage and background will be eliminated.
While the Fourth Wing TV series has been announced, filming has not commenced and there's no fixed release date.
In Fourth Wing, Xaden is clearly described as having high cheekbones, long lashes, and the golden hue of his eyes taken from his mother, while also boasting warm-toned, tawny-brown skin with dark stubble along his jawline. As a conventionally attractive lieutenant rider, Xaden’s striking good looks were an important factor in ensuring he was entirely irresistible to the first-year Basgiath War College rider Violet Sorrengail. Make no mistake, Xaden was a person of color, a fact confirmed by Yarros herself (via E! News), and which needs to be an essential requirement for whoever gains the coveted role.
Too Many Fan Castings Ignore This Aspect Of Xaden's Character
Fourth Wing Readers Have Consistently Suggested Actors Who Should Not Play The Role
However, despite all facts pointing to the contrary, there has been a litany of fan castings for the Fourth Wing TV series that totally ignore Yarros’ description of Xaden’s appearance. While Screen Rant’s suggestions of actors who would be perfect in the role of Xaden offered many examples of talented performers who fit Yarros' descriptions, time and again, online fan casts put white men forward for a role they are not right for. This is disappointing, especially since Fourth Wing already has plenty of characters who could be played by white actors, and Xaden’s ethnicity should not be retconned.
At the beginning of Fourth Wing, Xaden was a 23-year-old person of color and a third-year cadet with a tawny skin tone.
With actors like Theo James, Ben Barnes, and even Henry Cavill being among common fan suggestions to play Xaden, it’s clear that readers have allowed their imaginations to run wild as they disregard not just race but also age in their dream cast for Fourth Wing. Instead, Xaden’s established traits should guide the casting decision for this dream role. At the beginning of Fourth Wing, Xaden was a 23-year-old person of color and a third-year cadet with a tawny skin tone, and the actor who portrays him should be able to fulfill all of these character traits.
Rebecca Yarros' Casting Comments Give Me Hope That Fourth Wing Will Get It Right
While Yarros Won’t Share Her Fan Cast, She’s Firm That Amazon Needs To Get It Right
While whom should portray Xaden in Fourth Wing has been a divisive issue, one person determined to ensure Amazon makes the right choice is Rebecca Yarros. Although Yarros said she doesn’t have a lot of choice regarding series casting, she’s standing firm on the depiction of Xaden Riorson. At a Q&A session, Yarros told the crowd that Amazon “know how staunch I am against whitewashing Xaden.” The author said there’s so much opportunity to ensure that Fourth Wing features a wide range of heritages and ethnicities, and said she’s hoping they open up “to more diversity.”
Casting Amazon's Fourth Wing TV Show: 15 Actors Who'd Be Perfect For Main Roles
Amazon is adapting Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing books into a TV series, and the show must get the casting for the major characters right.
Although fans are eager to know who Yarros would cast in the role, she’s been tight-lipped on her personal preferences as “the second I say who I think this character is,” then “that's who everyone will accept.” Yarros added that she hopes Amazon finds actors from the “up-and-coming generation,” which would align well with most of the book’s characters being in their early 20s. While Yarros was firm that “I would never put my fan cast in your heads,” one thing that is certain is that Fourth Wing needs to cast Xaden as a person of color.
Based on the novel series by Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing is an action-adventure fantasy series in development for Prime Video. Announced in 2024, Fourth Wing will follow the adventures of a young woman named Violet Sorrengail, who has been taken from her peaceful book-reading life and thrust into a world of danger when she is forced by her mother to an elite group of dragon-riding warriors.
- Creator(s)
- Rebecca Yarros
- Seasons
- 1
