Shadow and Bone Season 2 – is Confirmed to Return!

The Netflix series many loved, Shadow and Bone, is confirmed to return for season 2. The book series set in Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo is renewed to return for season two in the tv series adaptation of it. Streamed by 55 million households on its first 28 days of release, the first season of the fantasy show introduced us to a new and exciting series and ended with an epic cliffhanger. This really left us waiting and looking forward to season 2. 

Set in the 19th century of Tsarist Russia, Shadow and Bone follow the story of Alina, a mapmaker who turns out to be a prophesied Grisha, the Sun Summoner. Action, drama, romance, magical stags, and a dash of intense betrayal were all there in the first season. There were a lot of unsolved mysteries as well, which kept viewers on the edge of their seats and set up the Netflix TV show for a second season just right. Now, fans are joyful about the season 2 update. Let’s look at the production and cast for the upcoming season. 

Season 2 Production and Cast

The crew for Shadow and Bone season 2 has just finished filming! The filming lasted from January 2022 up until May 2022. But with the very long editing process, mainly because of special effects, it may take longer for the new season to be watched by the audience. The trailer for the new season might be released this year, but we can also expect the new season to be witnessed next year, in 2023. 

Of course, we can expect the same cast from season 1, with the main leads being Jessi Mei Li playing Alina Starkov, Ben Barnes as General Kirigan, also known as The Darkling, and Archie Renaux as Malyen Oretsev. The cast of the Crows will also come back with Freddy Carter (Kaz Brekker), Amita Suman (Inej), and Kit Young (Jesper Fahey).

We can also expect new characters to be introduced in the upcoming season. Nikolai Lantsov, to be played by Patrick Gibson, is a prince who is described as confident and full of swagger. He develops an alter identity called Sturmhond, who enlists a group of warriors and mercenaries to help Ravka. Another new character for season 2 is a heartrending named Tamar Kir-Bataar, who will be played by Anne Leong Brophy. Also following Tamar is her twin brother, Tolya Yur-Bataar, with Lewis Tan playing the role. Tolya is a mercenary of Sturmhond’s crew. Lastly, Jack Wolfe will play the character of Wylan Hendriks, a son of a wealthy merchant who is a skilled chemist and a demolition expert. He is expected to join the Crows.

Season 2 Plot Speculation

There is still no confirmed plot for season 2, but if we follow the Storm and Seige book, we might expect the Darkling to go after Alina and Mal. Alina and Mal will try to start a new and everyday life while hiding Alina’s identity as the Sun Summoner. The cliffhanger in season 1 left us with the Darkling still alive and his shadow creations following him. If we ask the cast what to expect for the new season, Ben Barnes, who plays the Darkling, said, “He’s someone who has had an army and has been in charge of this medieval hierarchy, someone who’s revered and feared. But he’s even more alone now – with a handful of vendettas and an amassed group of people trying to kill him. He’s sort of all-powerful now. He just has to think of something dark, and it will happen. So it’ll be interesting to see which characters we find him interacting with going forward.” So we might expect the Darkling to be more potent in this new season.

Season two will cover the Storm and Seige book, but directors and producers might add different plots and twists to the TV series adaptation, and it might even cover the third book, Ruin and Rising. Season two will also give attention to the Crows, adding their story to the series and intertwining it with Alina’s. 

Release Date and More Upcoming Seasons?

Again, there is still no confirmed release date for season 2, but with the pre-production and post-production on their way, we can expect the new season to be released in early 2023. 

Can we expect more seasons to come? It still hasn’t been confirmed, but author Leigh Bardugo hopes the TV series will have five seasons, adding, “There’s so much story.” Especially with the Shadow and Bone book trilogy and four other books in the Grishaverse (not including the short stories), there is just so much to add and focus on.