Fourth Wing fans divided over Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya’s casting as Violet and Xaden
The moment BookTok has been waiting for has finally arrived - Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson have officially been cast in the ‘Fourth Wing’ TV adaptation.
The highly anticipated show, which was first announced by Amazon MGM Studios in October 2023 and is being executive-produced by Michael B. Jordan, will transform Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling romantasy book for the screen.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Empyrean series, it follows Violet, a 20-year-old bookworm who’s been training her whole life to be a scribe, as she’s forced into the brutal, deadly Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College by her commander mother.
There she meets Xaden Riorson, the stony-faced wing leader of Fourth Wing, whose rebel father was executed by Violet's mother.
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Ever since the whispers of a TV show began, fans have been picking out their dream cast and eagerly anticipating who would be stepping into the roles.
And now, the time has come to find out - Esther McGregor has been cast as Violet Sorrengail, while German actor Emilio Sakraya will become Xaden Riorson, according to Deadline sources.
McGregor is best known for her role as Mirren Sinclair Sheffield in We Were Liars, while Sakraya has starred in Those About to Die and the sci-fi series Tripes of Europa.
Sakraya didn’t come as too big of a surprise, as he’s been heavily featured in many of the fan casts, but Ewan McGregor’s daughter Esther, 34, bagging the leading role was unexpected - Obsession star Inde Navarrette was the main name being thrown around for the role, but it looks like that simply wasn’t to be.
Fans have been rushing to social media to share their thoughts on the casting decisions for the enemies-to-lovers story - and, as with any book adaptation, it’s safe to say people are divided.
One reader wrote of Sakraya, “HE WAS ALWAYS MY WINGLEADER OF CHOICE!!!!” while a second added: “ALWAYS KNEW IT WOULD BE HIM.”
A third wrote: “THIS IS PERFECTION,” and a fourth agreed: “The way he was fancast so many times he was already Xaden in my head.”
However, a fifth penned: “Actually devastated by this. He was never my Xaden,” and a sixth agreed: “I understand that it’s hard to adapt a beloved book. But this is a disappointing announcement.”
Someone else angrily quipped: “This is so bad. How is Violet gonna be played by someone that is 5'7 and Xaden 6' when Vi is supposed to be significantly shorter than Xaden... I hate this.”
Another reader wrote: “This is so bad. The guy could maybe work, but that's NOT Violet. I won't be watching.”
Others have thankfully taken a more measured approach and outlined how we can’t really judge until we’ve seen them in character or their chemistry on screen.
One X user reasoned: “Not how I pictured the characters, but that can sometimes change once we see them in costume and in character.”
A second agreed: “When will people understand that the image in your head is never gonna match a casting.. and the decisions going into casting is also only part looks and lots of parts other things…chemistry, talent etc! And also when will people learn to trust the process instead of being instantly negative?! You can’t base them fitting a character based on one still image in an article.”
And a third penned: “Y’all be nice!! I pictured her as more of an Imogen, but she will be great!”
As for the rest of the cast, we’ll have to wait and see…
Topics: Books, TV And Film, Entertainment, News, Social Media
Madison Burgess