Michael B. Jordan is Creating the Best Fantasy Series Since Game of Thrones

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Dragons, love, and dragon riders finding romance – and a whole world where dragons fall in love too! If you’re a fan of romantasy, you’ve likely heard of Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing, published May 2, 2023. This book has become a huge hit, and it’s shifted the focus in the genre from fae to dragons.

In Fourth Wing, Violet Sorengail unexpectedly joins the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College. Violet originally intended to become a Scribe, but her lifelong health issues made that seem impossible. The author, Rebecca Yarros, based Violet’s struggles on her personal experiences with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Throughout her training, Violet begins to uncover hidden truths about her kingdom that have been kept secret for years.

Since the release of Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros has continued the popular Empyrean series with two more hit novels: Iron Flame and Onyx Storm. While the fourth book doesn’t have a title yet, Yarros has said she intends to conclude the series with a fifth book. Additionally, Fourth Wing is being developed into a television show by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society production company.

Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society Is Uniquely Suited to Honor Fourth Wing’s Commitment to Diversity and Disability Representation

Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), New Line Cinema, Chartoff-Winkler Productions, and Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions

Michael B. Jordan is a successful actor and producer who first gained recognition for his role as Wallace on the HBO series The Wire. He’s widely known for his work in films like Black Panther, Fruitvale Station, and the Creed movies, and he recently directed Creed III.

Jordan founded Outlier Society in 2016 to champion more diverse stories and perspectives. In 2019, they created the Outlier Society Fellowship, with support from the Obama Foundation and My Brother’s Keeper, to further this mission. The fellowship aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders in media, arts, and entertainment, specifically those from underrepresented communities.

Why Diversity and Disability Representation Matter for the Fourth Wing TV Adaptation

The world of the Fourth Wing books is intentionally diverse, and the upcoming TV series should reflect that. Fans are particularly hoping the show accurately casts Xaden Riorson, Violet’s love interest, as a person of color, as the author has confirmed this is his ethnicity in the books. Given that the production company, Outlier Society, often prioritizes inclusive casting, viewers are optimistic about a faithful adaptation.

It’s important that the upcoming Fourth Wing TV series accurately portrays disability. The main character lives with a long-term physical disability, and the story goes to great lengths to realistically show how she overcomes the intense physical challenges of becoming a dragon rider. The world of the books demands a lot from its riders, and Violet’s story includes unique solutions to help her compete.

Dragon Rider Stories Are Dominating TV, From HBO’s House of the Dragon to Disney+’s Eragon

Dragon stories are incredibly popular right now, largely thanks to shows like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. While George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is a classic epic fantasy, and the Empyrean series falls into the adult romantasy category within new adult fiction, dragon rider stories appeal to a wide range of readers and appear in many different genres.

Disney+ is creating a new TV series based on Christopher Paolini’s beloved book series, The Inheritance Cycle, starting with an adaptation of the first book, Eragon. While the books are aimed at younger readers, the series is expected to appeal to a wide audience. Many adult fans of today’s popular fantasy novel, Fourth Wing, originally enjoyed The Inheritance Cycle as children and were disappointed by the 2006 Eragon movie, which received very poor reviews (currently at 15% on Rotten Tomatoes).

Michael B. Jordan Shares Promising Update on the Fourth Wing TV Series

Image via GETTY

Jordan recently spoke with Deadline about his Oscar nomination for the horror movie Sinners, his next project, a remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, and shared how filming is progressing on Fourth Wing.

Jordan promised the upcoming show will be thrilling, giving fans everything they hope for, along with some surprises. He emphasized the team understands how much people love the franchise and are working hard to create something special. While it’s still in the early stages of development, they’re aware of the passionate fanbase and are dedicated to delivering a great experience.

Following a growing pattern of authors taking an active role in adapting their books for the screen, Rebecca Yarros will be an executive producer on the upcoming Fourth Wing TV series. Meredith Averill, known for her work on shows like Netflix’s Wednesday, Jane the Virgin, and The Good Wife, will be the showrunner.

There is no release date for the Fourth Wing show at this time.

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2026-02-06 01:35