In what may be the most anticipted shows of our time, Rebecca Yarros’ popular Fourth Wing novels are being adapted for television with Amazon.
The first novel in the series, Fourth Wing, was released in mid-2023 and quickly went viral on TikTok’s BookTok community, as well as becoming a New York Times best seller.
So far, Yarros has released three out of the planned five books in the series, with Amazon MGM Studios and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society acquiring the rights to the entire collection.
Yarros first shared the news on her Instagram, writing: “I’m so humbled and thrilled to announce that Fourth Wing has been optioned and is currently in development for a TV series by Amazon MGM Studios with Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society producing!!! They’re an ABSOLUTELY incredible team, and I can’t wait to see their adaptation of Fourth Wing brought to life! I have all the faith in the world in them!”
She added, “Words can’t portray just how excited I am and how grateful to work with such amazing people!”
There’s been some highly contentious speculation about the Fourth Wing casting, details dropped from Yarros and updates on the production – so let’s unpack.
Why Did Moira Walley-Beckett Drop Out Of The Show?
One of the first (and only) confirmations we had about the Fourth Wing TV adaptation was the appointment of Moira Walley-Beckett as showrunner. However, in July of this year it was revealed the writer and producer had pulled out of production. While Walley-Beckett wiped all posts about the show from her social media, there has been no confirmation as to why the decision was made.
On September 25th, her replacement was announced with Amazon tapping Meredith Averill to step into the showrunner role. Averill is best known for her work on Netflix fantasy series Locke & Key as well as hit, Wednesday, so it’s safe to assume fans are in safe hands.
What Happens If The Show Is Made Faster Than The Books?
With only three books written and released, you may be wondering where that leaves plans for the show. There can be issues with TV shows adapting unfinished series (the seventh season of Game Of Thrones, for example) due to the show being made faster than the books. While Yarros certainly released the first three novels in quick succession, she has stated that the next two will be written at a slower pace.
In an interview with Variety, Yarros explained, “We’re slowing down a tiny bit, not every six months.”
As TV shows are generally faster to make than books, there is concern the show will surpass the series, possibly risking underdeveloped plot and characters.
But the good news is that both Rebecca Yarros and her editor, Liz Pelletier, are producers on the Amazon Prime series. As they’re already working closely together on Yarros’ novels, it’s likely they will have strategies around the timing.
What Is The Fourth Wing Series About?
Fourth Wing follows twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail, who is content with her place in Basgiath War College’s scholarly Scribe Quadrant until her mother orders her to the brutal Riders Quadrant. There, Violet has to compete with hundreds of other candidates to become one of the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
Yarros has also confirmed that she knows what will happen across the final two books and has shared this story arc with Amazon.
When Will The Fourth Wing Series Be Released?
At this stage, we don’t know the production timeline for the show but keep checking this page for more information as it’s released.
Where Can I Watch The Fourth Wing TV Series?
When it is released, you’ll be able to watch The Fourth Wing on Amazon Prime.
