Shadow and Bone is a Netflix adaptation of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy and Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo. The series, announced on January 10, 2019, was created, written, and executive produced by showrunner Eric Heisserer, and executive produced by Leigh Bardugo, Shawn Levy, Pouya Shahbazian, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen, and Josh Barry for 21 Laps Entertainment.[1] Season 1 was released on April 23, 2021.[2]
On June 7, 2021, Shadow and Bone was renewed for a second season, which consisted of 8 episodes.[3]
The show was canceled on November 15, 2023, shortly following the SAG-AFTRA strike.[4]
Synopsis[]
In a world cleaved in two by a massive barrier of perpetual darkness, where unnatural creatures feast on human flesh, a young soldier uncovers a power that might finally unite her country. But as she struggles to hone her power, dangerous forces plot against her. Thugs, thieves, assassins and saints are at war now, and it will take more than magic to survive.[1]
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov[5][6]
- Ben Barnes as General Kirigan[5][6][7]
- Archie Renaux as Malyen Oretsev[5][6]
- Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker[5][6]
- Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa[5][6]
- Kit Young as Jesper Fahey[5][6]
- Zoë Wanamaker as Baghra
- Danielle Galligan as Nina Zenik (season 2; recurring season 1)[8]
- Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar (season 2; recurring season 1)[8]
- Daisy Head as Genya Safin (season 2; recurring season 1)[8]
- Lewis Tan as Tolya Yul-Bataar (season 2)[8]
- Anna Leong Brophy as Tamar Kir-Bataar (season 2)[8]
- Patrick Gibson as Nikolai Lantsov (season 2)[8]
- Jack Wolfe as Wylan Hendriks (season 2)[8]
Production[]
- Leigh Bardugo has a cameo in one of the episodes. She originally wanted to have a dramatic death scene but instead, she is seen hugging Alina after her display of power before the royal family. On her Instagram story she shared that she will be wearing a purple Materialki kefta.
- February 28, 2020: The show officially wrapped production on the first season.[9]
- October 2, 2019: Key cast members announced; cast and crew are filming in Budapest.[10]
- January 11, 2019: In her newsletter to fans, Leigh Bardugo offered additional details about how the series will be adapted for television:
- Netflix has the rights to the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, and The Language of Thorns.[11]
- The producers do not plan on "just smashing together the timelines". It is not set in stone, but Bardugo stated that she has "been thinking of Season 1 as getting Book One of Shadow and Bone and Book Zero of Six of Crows."[11]
- The show will focus on bringing "more diversity into play early in the Shadow and Bone narrative, meaning that "some of the characters aren't going to look the way they were described on the page—and that’s the way it should be."[11]
- On June 7, 2021, after being watched by more than 55 million member households in its first 28 days, the series was renewed for an 8 episode second season.[3]
- Despite Season 2 reaching Netflix's Top Ten and streamed for 192.9 million hours, plans for Season 3 were cancelled on November 15, 2023.[4]
- Plans for a spinoff show based on the Six Of Crows duology were also cancelled, even though a script was already written.
Cancellation[]
Season 3[]
Netflix cancelled Shadow and Bone on November 15, 2023, despite having been the 15th most watched show on Netflix in the first half of 2023, the 10th most Googled show in 2023, and having stayed in the top 10 of 86 countries for up to 6 weeks after its release. The decision came a week after the end of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and a month and a half after the end of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. The strikes were presented by Netflix as the reason for the cancellation. Eric Heisserer was at the head of the Negotiating Committee during the strike . Leigh Bardugo, Ben Barnes, Daeghan Fryklind, Shelley Meals, Christina Strain, Erin Conley, Stacy Milbourn, Lilly Slaydon, were among the numerous Shadow and Bone cast and crew members who participated in the strike. Many media outlets underlined that Netflix had made a wrong decision, especially based on the viewers data.
Six Of Crows[]
Following the cancellation, it was confirmed that Netflix decided to not go forward with the Six of Crows spin-off. The script for the spin-off had been commissioned by Netflix and completed before the release of Season 2.
Fan Campaign[]
Immediately upon the news of the cancellation, a campaign called Save the Grishaverse was launched by fans online. A Discord server was created to coordinate the effort. A petition titled "SAVE Shadow and Bone!!!" is currently online to save Season 3 and the spin-off. It was launched on Change.org on November 16, 2023, and gathered more than 120,000 signatures in 4 days. According to Change.org, it was the most signed petition to renew a series in 2023. A Kickstarter project was also launched on November 18, 2023, to fund a billboard campaign in Los Angeles and London. The Kickstarter closed on December 23, having gathered $13,882 thanks to 457 backers. It funded a billboard in Los Angeles and another one in London, and both were unveiled on January 22, 2024.
Other ways the fans have been trying to convince Netflix to reconsider their decision include sending hundreds of postcards and origami crows from all over the world to the Netflix headquarters, organizing Twitter and watch parties every day in order to keep the show trending daily on social media and on Netflix, commenting on Netflix posts on social media, putting flyers and posters in public places… The official hashtags for the campaign are #SaveShadowAndBone and #SixOfCrowsSpinOff. Leigh Bardugo and many cast and crew members have reacted to the campaign by either sharing the petition, participating in the Kickstarter rewards, sharing news articles and data related to the show or thanking the fans for their engagement. A non-exhaustive list: Eric Heisserer, Daeghan Fryklind, Ben Barnes, Kit Young, Lewis Tan, Julian Kostov, Simon Sears, Dean Lennox Kelly, Taylor Fay, Christina Strain, Shelley Meals, Christian Thalmann, Vanya Asher…
Accolades[]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | People's Choice Awards | The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show of 2021 | Shadow and Bone | Nominated | [12] |
External links[]
- Netflix's official interactive website for Shadow and Bone: Beyond the Fold
- Official Facebook
- Official Twitter
- Official Instagram
- Shadow and Bone at the Internet Movie Database
- Shadow and Bone on Wikipedia
See also[]
- Shadow and Bone (Music from the Netflix Series)
- Shadow and Bone: Enter the Fold
- Shadow and Bone books and TV series comparison
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Netflix Orders ‘Shadow And Bone’ Series Based On Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse Novels From Eric Heisserer & Shawn Levy – January 10, 2019
- ↑ Shadow and Bone | Announcement Teaser | Netflix – December 17, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ‘Shadow & Bone’ Renewed For Season 2 As Netflix Reveals Viewership Data For Fantasy Drama – June 7, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 ‘Shadow And Bone’, ‘Glamorous’ & ‘Agent Elvis’ Among 5 Series Canceled By Netflix Amid Strike Impact – November 15, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 ‘Shadow And Bone’: ‘Westworld’s Ben Barnes & ‘Last Night In Soho’s Jessie Mei Li Among Cast For Netflix Series – October 2, 2019
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Netflix's "See What's Next" Twitter (Cast Photo) – October 2, 2019
- ↑ The full character breakdown. A reminder to my readers, the Darkling has had many names. - October 2, 2019
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 ‘Shadow & Bone’: ‘Mortal Kombat’ Star Lewis Tan & ‘The OA’s Patrick Gibson Among Four Added To Season 2 Cast - January 13, 2022
- ↑ Shadow and Bone has officially wrapped production and a few friends would like to wish you a warm welcome to the Grishaverse...
- ↑ Josh Barry Twitter – October 2, 2019
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Leigh Bardugo Newsletter – January 11, 2019
- ↑ https://www.votepca.com/tv/the-sci-fifantasy-show-of-2021