The fantasy streaming wars have found romantasy rivals inFourth WingandQuicksilver. Both Netflix and Amazon vying for dominance in the exploding romantasy subgenre.
Netflix is adaptingQuicksilver,whileAmazon has acquired the rights toFourth Wing.The success of these shows will hinge on their ability tocapture the best parts of the bookswhile navigating the complexities of long-term storytelling in the competitive streaming landscape.Fourth Wingcould beAmazon’s major success following the cancellation ofShadow and Bone.
Amazon’s Fourth Wing Show Will Help It Compete Against Netflix’s Quicksilver Adaptation
Both Shows Are Adaptations Of Romantasy Books Which Are Exploding In Popularity
Following its viral success on BookTok, Callie Hart’sQuicksilverhas been optioned for a Netflix adaptation. The romantasy novel, blending fantasy with romance, debuted at #1 on Amazon. Netflix has not yet revealed whetherQuicksilverwill be adapted as a film or a series. However, Callie Hart will serve as executive producer alongside Elizabeth Cantillon, whose credits include producingPersuasionandThe Girl in the Spider’s Webfor The Cantillon Company.WhereasRings of PowerandWheel of Timeon Prime Video are more classic fantasy,Fourth WingandQuicksilverare in the romantasy genre, making them more direct competitors.
Onyx Storm: 10 Characters I Think Will Die In The Next Fourth Wing Sequel
Many characters will likely die in the next Fourth Wing sequel Onyx Storm, with ten particular choices standing out for various reasons.
Their futures will be determined by how the shows treat the source material. This isn’t just aboutgettingFourth Wingcharacters right for TV. Netflix and Amazon have histories of prematurely ending shows. This trend is evident in Netflix’s decision to concludeThe Witcherafter season 5, despite the existence of nine novels in the original series.Quicksilveris part of a confirmed trilogy, giving it an advantage in an increasingly volatile streaming market. Rebecca Yarros’Empyreanseries is planned for five books, making it more risky, but the sheer popularity of the series will mitigate this.
Fourth Wing’s TV Show Already Has A Huge Advantage Over Quicksilver’s
Fourth Wing’s Inbuilt Fanbase Is Overwhelming, Giving It An Edge
Fourth Wing’s' larger fanbase provides a clear advantage in the adaptation process. Amazon’s focus on this project could allow them to quickly establish a foothold in the fantasy genre. In addition, the success of both series could be enhanced by the multiple points of view trend in fantasy and romantasy. CalledFourth Wing’s secret project, Xaden’s POV bonus chapters follow a trend most prominently popularized by Stephenie Meyer. With her publication ofMidnight Sun,Meyer opened up more scope for further adaptation. Viewers will now see the fruits of that effort with the newTwilightanimation.
Fourth Winghas an overwhelming built-in fanbase, priming the TV adaptation for success.
Part of the deliberate frustration of readingFourth Wingis being largely limited to Violet’s point of view – Xaden’s bonus chapters are a rare treat. The extra chapters ofQuicksilverprovide a similar appeal with Kingfisher’s point of view. However, overall,Fourth Winghas an overwhelming built-in fanbase, priming the TV adaptation for success. This alone is a big advantage overQuicksilver.Amazon’s major adaptation success has been the game adaptationFallout,which follows Lucy’s widening perspective. They could take the same approach to Violet, who has a comparable arc of becoming disillusioned with her reality.
Fourth Wing
Based on the novel series by Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing is an action-adventure fantasy series in development for Prime Video. Announced in 2024, Fourth Wing will follow the adventures of a young woman named Violet Sorrengail, who has been taken from her peaceful book-reading life and thrust into a world of danger when she is forced by her mother to join an elite group of dragon-riding warriors.
