What is the Shadow and Bone season 2 release date? Based on two series of books set in the Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone blew away lovers of quality TV series when it first aired on Netflix on April 23, 2021. The series was streamed by 55 million households during the first 28 days of its release and ended on an epic cliffhanger.
Needless to say, we have all been waiting eagerly for news about a Shadow and Bone season 2, and are anxious to dive into the next chapter of the fantasy series. Set in 19th century Tsarist Russia, half of the population are known as Grisha, people with special abilities and elemental bending powers. Shadow and Bone’s story follows an orphaned girl Alina, who is revealed to be a prophesied Grisha known as the Sun Summoner. The first season was filled with fighting, drama, romance, mystical stags, and a bit of spicy betrayal. There were also plenty of unanswered questions, and it perfectly set up the Netflix series for a second season.
Ahead of the new season, we have gathered everything that you need to know about the TV series. From the Shadow and Bone season 2 release date, trailer, plot, cast, and more, we here at The Digital Fix have rounded up all the info that you need before venturing back into the magical world of the Grishaverse.
Shadow and Bone season 2 release date
In December 2022, Netflix finally announced the Shadow and Bone season 2 release date is March 16, 2023.
Shadow and Bone season 1 started filming in October 2019 until March 2020. It then aired a year later, in April 2021.
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The second season began filming in January 2022 and finished in June 2022, so they have clearly been working overtime to bring it to us for March 2023.
Shadow and Bone season 2 trailer speculation
The first Shadow and Bone season 2 trailer has been released, and it’s a short teaser hinting at new adventures and new faces.
The teaser was shared at the annual TUDUM 2022 event, along with plenty of other Netflix-related morsels. However, this was what Shadow and Bone fans were looking for.
A second Shadow and Bone season 2 trailer was released on February 17.
Shadow and Bone season 2 plot speculation
We may not have an official synopsis from Netflix yet, but we do have some pretty solid guesses about what the Shadow and Bone season 2 plot will be about.
In the last season, we saw Alina’s collarbone absorb some mystical stag antlers, The Darkling expand the Shadow Fold, and Alina and Mal fleeing from Kirigan’s immortal clutches – at least for now.
In season 1, we also saw Kaz, Ineji and Jesper returning to Ketterdam. Nina follows them as she is set on trying to free her now-turned-lover Matthias from prison. Although we don’t have any solid story details for Shadow and Bone season 2 yet, we can begin to piece together a pretty clear picture of what it could look like by looking at the novels Siege and Storm and Six of Crows.
Shadow and Bone season 1 followed the story primarily from the first novel, Shadow and Bone. Therefore, we can assume that Shadow and Bone season 2 will stick closely to the plot from the second book in Leigh Bardugo’s trilogy – Storm and Siege.
In the Storm and Siege book, we see Alina and Mal trying to start a new and normal life in Novyi Zem, with Alina hiding her identity as the Sun Summoner. However, (surprise) the Darkling is determined to track the two down, and with his increased power thanks to the now bigger and badder Shadow Fold, he soon finds and captures the two.
Seeing how season one ended with the Darkling surviving and Mal and Alina on the run, it seems like Storm and Siege’s plot fits into where we last left off. But, as is the case with most adaptations, the drama series can always deviate from its source material.
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Collider asked Leigh Bardugo if Shadow and Bone season 2 would go straight into the book Siege and Storm. Bardugo teased that the upcoming plot may surprise us and that we may potentially see a script that features more than just one of the books in the series. “I would prefer not to get too deep into specifics,” Bardugo said.
“But I will say this, which is that there are currently seven novels in the Grishaverse, not counting the short stories. And I don’t believe it takes seven seasons to get through that story, because we’ve created this alternate timeline. But I’m not the showrunner, so we’ll see what Eric [Heisserer] has in mind.”
It’s safe to say that some surprise curveballs could be thrown into the plot, and the third book in the series, Ruin and Rising, could be covered as well as Siege and Storm. Bardugo’s statement also hints that the Crows story will get some attention.
As fans of the books may know, season 1 featured a new story for Kaz that basically was a prequel to the Six of Crows – the first book in the Crow-centred series that technically takes place after the Shadow and Bone trilogy.
Since Six of Crows isn’t tied to Alina’s story arc, season 2’s script may work to tie them into the central plot more. It is worth noting that Novyi Zem – the place where Mal and Alina are heading is Jesper’s home country before he travelled to Ketterdam, so there is definitely a potential link there.
There is also the possibility of a new magic amplifier appearing in season 2. In season 1, obviously, we saw the stag, the central magic amplifier being killed by the Darkling.
However, it was revealed that Ilya Morozova created two more amplifiers that can greatly enhance a Grisha’s power. After Alina and Mal get captured by the Darkling in the second book, they are forced to hunt the Sea Whip – the new mystical and aquatic amplifier.
In an interview with Film Updates, actor Lewis Tan also revealed that “season two is going to be insane.” So yeah, plenty to look forward to!
There is a well of story possibilities for Shadow and Bone season 2. Although we don’t have a solid confirmation just yet, by going off the books and fan theories, it seems like the new season will be even more action-packed and fantastical than its predecessor.
Who are the new characters in Shadow and Bone season 2?
There are at least two new characters in Shadow and Bone season 2. Showrunner Eric Heisserer has teased that we will get to see Wylan Van Eck in the new season.
For those who haven’t read the books, Wylan is the missing Crow member we have been waiting for. In Bardugo’s novels, he is the son of a wealthy merchant and a demolition expert – making him perfect for the gang’s future heists (and perhaps Matthias’ future prison break). He is also the love interest for Jesper, so we may be getting another romance in season two as well.
Jack Wolfe has been cast as Wylan Hendriks (a different name from the books we know), so needless to say, expect some fun Jesper storylines this season!
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Another character that appears in the book Siege and Storm is Nikolai Lantsov, the second son of the King and Queen of Ravka. Recently Netflix revealed that Patrick Wolfe has been cast as the character – meaning that he will definitely be in the new season.
Shadow and Bone season 2 will see the character help Mal and Alina escape the Darkling and take them across the Shadow Fold to a steampunk-looking flying ship – which we are personally excited to see come to life.
Shadow and Bone season 2 cast
The main cast we saw in season one is expected to return for Shadow and Bone season 2. That means Jessie Mei Li will be back as the Sun Summoner Alina.
Archie Renaux will take on the role of Mal once again, and Ben Barnes is returning as everyone’s favourite power-hungry antagonist General Kirigan – also known as the Darkling. Basically, most of the Shadow and Bone cast members are returning.
Here is the list of the Shadow and Bone season 2 cast:
- Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov
- Ben Barnes as General Kirigan (the Darkling)
- Archie Renaux as Malyen ‘Mal’ Oretsov
- Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker
- Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa
- Kit Young as Jesper Fahey
- Danielle Gilligan as Nina Zenik
- Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar
- Zoe Wanamaker as Baghra
- Sujaya Dasgupta as Zoya Nazyalensky
- Jack Wolfe as Wylan Hendriks
- Patrick Wolfe as Nikolai Lantsov
- Anna Leong Brophy as Tamar Kir-Battar
- Lewis Tan as Tolya Yul-Bataar
We will have to wait for Netflix to release the series, but be prepared for some potential casting surprises once the next chapter drops on our small screens.
WHERE CAN I WATCH SHADOW AND BONE SEASON 2?
Shadow and Bone season 2 will be available on the streaming service Netflix. Since it is an original series, don’t expect it to be distributed on any other platform. Season 1 was a Netflix exclusive, so season 2 will likely be as well.
It is also unlikely that Shadow and Bone season 2 will be available on Blu-ray and DVD. If a Blu-ray and DVD release does happen, it will be in the far future, and after a Shadow and Bone season 1 release, which hasn’t been confirmed yet.
And there you have it, everything we know about Shadow and Bone season 2. If you are itching for more otherworldly shows, here is our guide to everything we know about The Witcher season 3, and Squid Games season 2.
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