Amazon’s Fourth Wing Show Is Even Less Likely To Repeat Game Of Thrones’ Biggest Problem Thanks To One Book Detail
Fourth Wing readers eager to see the romantasy novels adapted for the small screen is up for exciting times ahead following a new update about the book. Rebecca Yarros has explicitly confirmed that there’s “no chance” the Fourth Wing show will repeat Game of Thrones’ mistake of overtaking the source material.
There is an optimistic outlook with Rebecca Yarros as the project’s executive producer and her strong faith in the production team. Yarros must remain involved by keeping it an adaptation rather than its own animal. This would prevent the adaptation from making Game of Thrones’ biggest mistake.
Given Their Length, Amazon’s Fourth Wing Show Was Never Going To Pass The Books
A Standard Streaming Season Doesn’t Cut It For Most Empyrean Books
It seems unlikely that the Fourth Wing show will adapt one book for each season because of the sheer length of Iron Flame and Onyx Storm. Given the gravitas of the events of Onyx Storm, it seems likely that book 4 will be a similar length. Fourth Wing could work as one season and, much like Game of Thrones, the tidiness of the first book would provide a great story structure for a first season. However, the sprawling universe of Empyrean series requires more depth than the standard 7-8 episodes per streaming season.
…Amazon has also confirmed that it will be years before the Fourth Wing show is actually released…
Regardless of this, Amazon has also confirmed that it will be years before the Fourth Wing show is actually released. Even with Yarros’ self–promised break before the next book in mind, the show was never going to surpass the books. It is encouraging that the showrunners are taking their time producing the series – there are a lot of key considerations to making it appealing on screen. For example, having the dragons speaking mentally and Violet and Xaden also conversing mentally needs thought in how this translates to television, although Yarros’ excited response to Fourth Wing’s screenplay dialogue is promising.
Iron Flame & Onyx Storm Will Probably Need 2 Seasons To Cover Everything
The Worldbuilding In Books 2 And 3 Is Immense
There is a lot of important worldbuilding done in Iron Flame and Onyx Storm, which means they need more than two seasons to cover everything. Part of what makes the Empyrean series so compelling is that the reader gradually learns more about the Venin threat, the secrets of Navarre’s military, and the Sorrengail family and Violet learns more. Unraveling this too quickly would miss out on a lot of interesting details, plus there is potential for beautiful sets that would be wasted if rushed through.
By Onyx Storm, the world is opened up to include the Isles, which have dramatically different environments.
For example, the “impractical and sublimely gorgeous” palace of King Tecarus in Iron Flame bears exploration, and could span two episodes having had so much previously set at Basgiath. By Onyx Storm, the world is opened up to include the Isles, which have dramatically different environments. This requires a Game of Thrones scale of production, and because the Isles correspond with the Gods in the series, there is a lot of valuable worldbuilding in spending more time in these areas than there is in the book.
More Seasons Will Give Rebecca Yarros More Time To Finish The Next 2 Fourth Wing Books
Rebecca Yarros Has Been Releasing The Books At A Breakneck Pace
Upon releasing Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros shared that she would be taking a break before the next book, potentially setting it back by a year. This would have been understandable, considering her involvement with the Fourth Wing adaptation – but she has since clarified what “break” really means. Yarros posted on Instagram:
“After Onyx Storm pushed my body and mental health to every possible limit, I told myself I could take a year to heal. […] I truly believe it was that self-given permission that’s made it feasible to be back here so much faster than I ever thought possible. Working on Fourth Wing’s graphic novel has been the best bridge to bring me back to my desk!!!”
It seems like she is working on the graphic novels rather than Empyrean book 4, but she has also surprised herself by working again more quickly than predicted after the mammoth task of Onyx Storm. Even if she took her time with the next book, the schedule of production and the time needed for each book means there is unlikely to be an issue. Further, Yarros has confirmed previously that she has given the production team the bare bones of where she is taking the story long-term.
Yarros worked on Onyx Storm incredibly quickly, considering the scale of the novel and the setup for the cliffhanger Onyx Storm ending.
Still, it is a relief that she has more time and that her pace will likely not have negative implications for the adaptation. Yarros worked on Onyx Storm incredibly quickly, considering the scale of the novel and the setup for the cliffhanger Onyx Storm ending. This did somewhat harm the storytelling, with several Fourth Wing readers feeling the worldbuilding was “rushed” to meet the fevered demand for the Empyrean series.
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Yarros has done a great job at introducing a variety of villains to the narrative, but if another one ends up being venin, it will be too predictable.
Onyx Storm’s sequel seems like it will have less romance and more contact via Violet’s second signet. Slowing down the pace of writing will help the author explore this part of their connection more, as well as reveal more about the Gods to readers without that time-pressured element creating a breathless narrative. Fourth Wing fans may have to wait a bit for what comes next, but it might be the best way to go.
Source: Instagram
