The excitement around the casting of Xaden Riorson for Fourth Wing is palpable, and for good reason. Rebecca Yarros has officially announced that they are working on the Fourth Wing series.
Xaden Riorson is a character who captures the imagination—tall and muscular, with tawny skin and distinctive onyx eyes flecked with gold. The intriguing rebellion relic that begins at his left wrist and courses up to his jawline is more than just a visual cue; it adds layers to his already complex persona. Violet Sorrengail describes his voice as having a rough pitch but notes that it feels like velvet against her skin. It’s these elements that create a vivid mental image, making the task of casting Xaden a challenging yet thrilling endeavor
Who’s been cast in the Fourth Wing TV show?
Prime Video hasn’t revealed any cast members yet, as the series is still in pre-production. However, there’s been plenty of fan speculation, with passionate readers weighing in on who should play 20-year-old heroine Violet Sorrengail and her love interest, Xaden Riorson.
While no official names have been announced, author Rebecca Yarros has confirmed that Xaden will be portrayed by a person of color. In the books, Xaden is described as having “warm tawny skin,” although some fan art has depicted him as white. Speaking to Variety in November 2023, Yarros said, “We’re just going to say he’s POC; we’re just going to leave it at that. I didn’t rise to the bait of a lot of those [fan] posts, which I think probably got me some flack, but I knew we were already in development for TV, and I want to make sure that role is open to as much diversity as possible.”
Recently, rumors have surfaced that Australian actor Josh Heuston might be cast as either Xaden or Bodhi, Xaden’s younger cousin. Heuston, who is of Anglo-Sri Lankan descent and known for his roles in The Last of Us, Dune: Prophecy, and Heartbreak High, was asked about the fan speculation on the red carpet during The Last of Us season 2 premiere. While he didn’t confirm or deny the rumors, he didn’t exactly shut them down either. When asked if he could be called Xaden, Heuston responded, “You have to ask the scribes, I suppose.”
When the reporter jokingly said she’d continue calling him Xaden, Heuston, 28, replied, “Interesting, yeah, that’s a great nickname.” To which the reporter quipped, “It really suits you.” Heuston laughed and said, “I hope so.”
It’s still unclear whether Heuston is truly in the running or for which role, so we’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, let the fan casting continue!
Who are we fan casting?
Casting suggestions have been pouring in (thank you!!!), and it’s worth noting that these aren’t just the musings of one individual. All the actors you see on this page have been suggested by you, the readers. If you have your own recommendation for who should play Xaden, feel free to leave a comment below or send me a message. Your choice will be added to the casting quiz and could even find its way onto this page.
Before we delve further into the actors who could embody Xaden, let’s clear up some skin tone terminology. Tawny generally refers to moderate or lighter tan or brownish skin, and it is often described as having tan, brown, cream, greenish, yellowish, or golden undertones. The actors on this list identify themselves as having either tawny or olive skin. However, in my opinion, some may appear a bit too fair-skinned to perfectly match Xaden’s description. I did decide to include ALL actor recommendations received so far.
P.S. Xaden is 23/24 years old.
When making recommendations, please let’s remember not to whitewash the character. If your suggestion is an actor, I will include them, though! Please note that I might take a couple of days to add your recommendations from the comments 🙂 I appreciate your patience with this!
Each actor is listed here with the number of votes they’ve received, based on your participation in the casting quiz. The page is updated daily to reflect new totals. Bear in mind that it’s just me running this little site, so updates might take a bit of time. Apologies for any delays.
In closing, casting Xaden Riorson is a tall order, but it’s also an opportunity to bring a truly compelling character to life. From his large chest and muscular arms to the scent of mint and leather that accompanies him, every edge of Xaden is honed like a weapon. The actor who eventually lands this role will have the honour of portraying a character who is not just physically imposing but emotionally intricate. Your votes and suggestions are invaluable in this quest, so keep them coming, and lots of love to all who participate.
Josh Heuston
Votes: 10652
27 years old from Australia. Height 180 cm
Michael Yerger
Votes: 5633
25 years old from USA. Height 185 cm
Richard Deiss
Votes: 4210
31 years old from France. Height 185 cm
Matthew Daddario
Votes: 3211
36 years old from USA. Height 190 cm
Marlon-Teixeira
Votes: 2999
32 years old from Brazil. Height 187 cm
Toni Mahfud
Votes: 2197
29 years old from Germany. Height 188 cm
Alex Aiono
Votes: 1955
27 years old from USA. Height 178 cm
Taylor Zakhar Perez
Votes: 990
31 years old from USA. Height 184 cm
Avan Jogia
Votes: 856
31 years old from Canada. Height 178 cm
Theo James
Votes: 801
38 years old from UK. Height 183 cm
Alp Navruz
Votes: 774
33 years old from Turkey. Height 183 cm
Diego Tinoco
Votes: 774
26 years old from USA. Height 175 cm
Brandon Sklenar
Votes: 774
33 years old from USA. Height 188 cm
Felix Mallard
Votes: 682
25 years old from Australia. Height 178 cm
Darren Barnet
Votes: 621
32 years old from USA. Height 178 cm
Taylor Lautner
Votes: 552
31 years old from USA. Height 178 cm
Jacob Elordi
Votes: 432
26 years old from Australia. Height 196 cm
Damian Romeo
Votes: 3
29 years old from Canada. Height 193 cm
Gavin Leatherwood
Votes: 773
29 years old from USA. Height 173 cm
Michael Cimino
Votes: 169
23 years old from USA. Height 178 cm
Staz Nair
Votes: 4
35 years old from UK. Height 180 cm
Michael Evan Behlings
Votes: 3
27 years old from USA. Height 188 cm
Leave a Reply