The conditions for the casting in the Fourth Wing adaptation are revealed by executive producer Michael B. Jordan, who promises to avoid certain missteps.

Prime Video’s live-action take on the popular Rebecca Yarros novel is gaining momentum, with Meredith Averill (Netflix’s Locke & Key, The Haunting of Hill House) recently tapped as showrunner and executive producer. The talent behind the scenes doesn’t stop there. The project hails from Jordan’s banner Outlier Society, in addition to Kilter Films from Westworld duo Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, and Premediated Production.

Big questions loom about the casting for Fourth Wing, which Jordan candidly addressed in an interview with the BBC. The actor, who is currently nominated for Best Actor at the upcoming Oscars for his dual performance in Sinners, shared that the casting process is still very much ongoing and that there won’t be any “obvious choices.” He added that the hope is for the adaptation to include a mix of new faces and well-known performers.

Jordan also spoke about not wanting the casting to be “distracting” and noted that the goal could be achieved by striking a balance. In the quote below, the Creed and Black Panther star shared his thoughts on wanting viewers to approach the series and its actors without any baggage:

It allows people to, like, fall in love with the characters that they have imagined in their head without any baggage, with projecting their own feelings on certain casts. So just know, it’s nothing cheesy coming out. It ain’t no obvious choices. I think it’s going to be something that feels honest..

There is a lot that’s yet to be revealed about Fourth Wing, including whether Jordan has plans to appear on-camera. When asked about the possibility, he responded with “I don’t know.” In any case, the project is a clear high-priority for Amazon MGM Studios and will be positioned as a top fantasy series for Prime Video whenever it debuts.

Fourth Wing centers on Violet Sorrengail, following the character as she steps away from the life of a scribe to become a dragon rider. Fulfilling the orders of her mother, who is a Military General, Violet steps into the harsh world of Basgiath War College and its focus on training new riders. Their method, however, is known as Graduate or Die. It is the first book in the Empyrean series.

Since its May 2023 debut, Fourth Wing became a viral sensation on BookTok. It spent 88 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, 18 of them occupying the #1 spot. The fantasy saga also sold over 2.7 million copies just in its first week and has been translated into several languages. In past comments, Jordan promised that the worldwide fandom is always in consideration. That extends to casting.