Amazon MGM Studios‘ adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling novel Fourth Wing is moving forward with a series order by Prime Video.
Series executive producer and newly minted Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan made the announcement onstage at the Amazon upfront presentation Monday. He then introduced fellow executive producer Lisa Joy — who will direct the first episode — executive producer/showrunner Meredith Averill and Yarros.
The Fourth Wing series comes from Jordan’s Outlier Society, Jonathan Nolan and Joy’s Kilter Films and Premeditated Productions. The long-gestating project kicked into gear last fall when Averill (Wednesday) joined as new showrunner.
Planned as a five-book series, with Fourth Wing (2023), Iron Flame (2023) and Onyx Storm (2025) as the first three titles, The Empyrean romantasy follows 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail as she leaves the life of a Scribe behind at her mother’s demand that she become a dragon rider. At the order of her mother, who is a general in the military of Navarre, Violet enters the brutal ranks of Basgiath War College, which trains up-and-coming riders through the Graduate or Die method.
“Rebecca’s books have become one of the fastest-selling franchises of the 21st century, with a fandom so passionate, so devoted, they don’t just read these books, they live in them, and it’s because Fourth Wing is everything at once,” Averill said. “The emotional stakes are sky high, the battles are epic, power dynamics are thrilling, and underneath it is so much humor and heart and a romance that will consume you.”
From left: Rebecca Yarros, Lisa Joy, Meredith Averill, Michael B. Jordan at the Amazon upfront
Amazon
Amazon MGM Studios and Outlier Society acquired the rights to the books in a heated auction around the time of the first novel’s May 2023 release. The plan is, in success, to adapt the rest of the books over multiple seasons.
“This project required the right creative partner,” Jordan said before bringing out Joy who said that “we’re building a cinematic world” with the goal “to deliver the series this fandom deserves.”
The duo and Amazon MGM Studios got Yarros’ stamp of approval.
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“These are the people who understand that a story means to its readers, and they’re passionate about the book, which is why I trust them completely,” she said.
Fourth Wing was one of three series Jordan presented at the upfront, developed under Outlier Society’s overall TV deal with Amazon MGM Studios, along with The Greatest and Delphi.
He introduced a sneak peek from the upcoming Muhammmad Ali limited series The Greatest, about “the evolution of a young man into a legend, from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali.” Jordan added, “Until now, no project has ever had they haven’t been authorized by the Ali estate, that trust and responsibility means everything to us,” before bringing out Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali, and Jaalen Best, who portrays Ali on the series.
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Jordan also showed a first-look at Delphi, the first TV series in the Creed film universe, which he has been part of since the 2015 first movie. It was written and directed by Ryan Coogler, the filmmaker behind Sinners, which landed Jordan an Oscar in March.
“When my colleague and dear friend Ryan Coogler asked me to step into the role of Apollo’a son Donnie Creed, I couldn’t have imagined it would be a journey that would last over a decade,” Jordan said.
He announced a May 18 start of production for the series in Los Angeles, “where the story belongs.”
“Bringing production back home, it means a lot to me,” Jordan added before he was joined by Delphi showrunner Marco Ramirez.
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“The center of our story is a young Latin American boxer from East L.A. who defies his father to join the elite Delphi program that produced Adonis Creed,” Ramirez said. “In this pressure-cooker environment led by the most demanding trainers, he has to earn his place among the sports rising stars. But it is one thing to leave behind your hometown and another thing to leave behind your family. It’s a propulsive, emotional drama where every round means something, because in this world, you’re only as good as your last fight.”
