Who Will Play Xaden Riorson in the ‘Fourth Wing’ TV series? 2,000+ Readers Voted—Meet Their Perfect Picks!
See which brooding actor won our readers' hearts in our first-ever fancasting poll!
Key Takeaways
- The ‘Fourth Wing’ TV series is in the works with Michael B. Jordan's Outlier Society.
- Official casting announcements are expected soon as production moves forward.
- More than 2,000 'Woman's World' readers voted in our Xaden Riorson fancasting poll.
It’s an excellent month to be a Fourth Wing fan! In case you missed it, Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society is officially bringing Rebecca Yarros’ dragon-rider series to Prime Video. Plus, Yarros herself is serving as executive producer on the Fourth Wing TV series and has already read—and loved—two versions of the script. Thank gods. But one fiery question is atop every fan’s mind: Who will play Xaden Riorson? Or maybe a better question is: Who could play the inimitable Xaden Riorson? Well, more than 2,000 Woman’s World readers have spoken—and they’ve chosen who should play Xaden in the upcoming Fourth Wing TV adaptation.
Jordan has even weighed in on the debate amid the show’s early development, saying they wouldn’t go with any ‘obvious choices’ when casting the fan-favorite character. So while we wait for official casting announcements, we decided to ask you! Our recent poll asked readers who they think should play the brooding and powerful Xaden—and more than 2,000 votes poured in.
Keep scrolling to meet all of your handsome potential Xadens, ranked by reader votes! From Heartbreak High‘s Josh Heuston to Beef‘s Charles Melton, every star below has serious potential to play Basgiath’s resident ‘shadow daddy.’ Did your favorite make the cut?
Fifth place: Charles Melton as Xaden—a ‘book-accurate’ choice
One repeat name circulating fancasting forums: Charles Melton, 35. The award-winning American actor had a breakthrough role in CW’s Riverdale and has since starred in multiple critically acclaimed movies like, The Sun is Also a Star and May December. Raised as an Army brat, Melton played college football before pursuing modeling and acting.
What fans are saying: “If we’re talking most book-accurate Xaden Riorson—not just “hot,” not just BookTok vibes—but how he’s actually written on the page, Charles Melton is my pick. For me, he’s the best balance of physicality, temperament and presence.”
Fourth place: Michael Yerger as Xaden—the stunning surprise
Michael Yerger, 27, has recently become a popular fancasting pick for Xaden and is consistently mentioned in Reddit threads and other polls. Fans specifically point to his look and age as a strong fit for the brooding, dark romantic lead. Yerger is known as a model, investor and former contestant on Survivor.
What fans are saying: “This man was so breathtakingly gorgeous on Survivor 35. I would just love to see him become a huge star and get a role as a leading man in a romantasy adaptation like Fourth Wing (hello, Xaden) or even A Court of Thorns and Roses.”
Third place: Avan Jogia as Xaden—from ‘Victorious’ to Basgiath?
Avan Jogia has quickly risen to the top of fans’ dream casting lists for Xaden Riorson—and it’s easy to see why. Best known for his roles on Victorious and Twisted, Jogia captures Xaden’s brooding intensity and sharp features.
Jogia also has a magnetic screen presence that aligns perfectly with Xaden’s dark, enigmatic appeal. Born in Vancouver and of British-Indian and European heritage, he left school at 16 to pursue acting and has since built a multifaceted career as a writer, director and musician.
What fans are saying: “Avan Jogia (you might recognize him as Beck from Victorious) is exactly who I picture as Xaden Riorson!”
Second place: Josh Heuston as Xaden—the viral TikTok favorite
Over the past few months, a majority of the viral fancasting buzz has centered on Josh Heuston as Xaden. The 28-year-old Heartbreak High star is well aware of the speculation and has been asked about it on multiple red carpets. “I think it’s a great world, the books are great, I’ve read them all now,” Heuston told Marie Claire in an interview.
Fans have been doing some detective work, and the clues are adding up: He’s been spotted reading The Empyrean series in public. His Instagram bio includes a dragon emoji. And he posted a boxing clip with the caption ‘violence’—which devoted readers immediately recognized as Xaden’s nickname for Violet in the novels. Coincidence? Fans think not!
What fans are saying: “Ever since seeing Josh Heuston’s handsome face and on-screen charisma in Dune Prophecy—especially that one clip going viral on TikTok of him walking in wearing all that armor and leather—I can totally imagine him as Xaden. He has my vote!”
First place: Emilio Sakraya as Xaden—’Woman’s World’ readers’ top pick!
Drumroll, please! Meet Emilio Sakraya—the actor Woman’s World readers crowned as their #1 pick for Xaden Riorson! The 29-year-old German actor is best known for his roles in Netflix’s Warrior Nun and Tribes of Europa as well as the critically acclaimed film Rhinegold.
Fourth Wing fans constantly throw Sakraya’s name into heated fancasting discussions, often favoring him for his unique ability to capture any character’s dark, “menacing” energy. Other fun facts about him: Sakraya is a former karate champion and he’s a singer.
What fans are saying: “Emilio Sakraya is the perfect Xaden. I said what I said.”
When will the ‘Fourth Wing’ TV series air?
Official casting announcements and premiere dates have not yet been released. However, there’s a shimmering silver lining—fans may have the fourth installment of The Empyrean series to tide themselves over soon. Yarros recently confirmed on her Instagram that she was actively working on the next installment in The Empyrean series. In the caption, she wrote: “Feels like a great day to start a stack of index cards.” Yarros famously uses index cards to plot her layered romantasy plotlines—and hundreds of thousands of fans liked the post.
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