Based upon a titular book series, Shadow and Bone is a part of the Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo. Its latest season premiered on Netflix on March 16, 2023, and its predecessor has reserved its seat in the Netflix library ever since April 23, 2021. Since then, the show has observed an exponential graph, ranking as the 8th most-watched English TV show of all time.
After streaming all the episodes of the second season, the show’s fans are eagerly waiting for some news to drop concerning the third season or whether there will be a third season. If you’re also trying to solve this puzzle, then you’ve come to the right place because we have gathered all the latest crumbs of information regarding Shadow and Bone season 3.
Has Netflix renewed Shadow and Bone for a third season?
At the time of writing this article, Netflix has not renewed Shadow and Bone for a third season as of yet. As we have deliberated in previous articles as well, the streaming giant takes into consideration several factors that determine the renewal or cancellation of the show, including viewership figures, cost of production, and more.
Since the second season premiered quite recently, it’s difficult to presume whether Netflix will renew the show or not. But if we take a look at the data released by the official sites, we can make an educated guess. As per Netflix’s hourly data release for its top 40 shows and movies, the second season of Shadow and Bone garnered 105.43M hours between March 12th and March 26th.
Unfortunately, this is not enough for Shadow and Bone season 2, and to make matters worse, these figures are not growing exponentially. With such a standstill, we speculate that Netflix might not renew the show for a third season after all.
As per the data gauged by TelevisionStats.com, which uses multiple metrics including Wikipedia, IMDb, Twitter, Reddit, and Torrents, Shadow and Bone is doing better than other shows, surpassed only by The Last of Us since the second season released on Netflix. As per the reports, Shadow and Bone is now the 10th biggest show in the world.
In late May 2023, the casting director of the series, Sophie Holland, expressed her inclination towards the renewal of the third season via Deadline. Holland said:
“…as for Shadow And Bone, we’re really hoping for a third season. It seems to have a huge fan base. It’s a fresh, up-and-coming cast and the story is very faithful to the books, which is refreshing. It’s all about that first month’s performance on Netflix, I guess, so we’ll find out soon if it’s being recommissioned. It’s a tricky time, as you noted, so we’ll see.”
Additionally, showrunner Eric Heisserer had previously revealed to Collider that he always had a “three-season plan” for the show in his mind. Having bigger hopes for the Grishaverse, author Leigh Bardugo told Inverse that she’d “love to see us get another five seasons.”
In a recent interview with Collider, Jessie Mei expressed the cast’s enthusiasm for another season of Shadow and Bone, saying that there “are definitely plans in the works.”
She said, “There have definitely been discussions about where our characters might go, but with the nature of streamers, it’s down to how many people watch the show and what the response is like.”
“I just really hope people watch it and enjoy it because I would love to go again and finish that story to see what happens to Alina. Equally, I’ve also had the most wonderful time on Shadow and Bone and I will always cherish it so much. Watch our show, please, so I can go and play with my friends again. I was very affected by the ending. They’ve left it in a really exciting place, and I think it would be such a shame to finish the story there.”
What is the overall performance of Shadow and Bone Season 2?
Based upon the recent data extracted from the weekly ranking in the Netflix global top 10s, the show was able to garner 132.43M hours between March 12 and April 2. However, the show did not observe any exponential growth in the second week, which might point toward a cancellation. According to FlixPatrol, the show sustained the fourth position around the globe as of April 4, 2023, and has maintained its popularity in countries like Australia, the Nordics, and Central to East Europe.
For the show to get a renewal, the second season should at least stay in the top 10s for another month. Per TelevisionStats.com, which utilizes multiple metrics including Wikipedia, IMDb, Reddit, Twitter, and Torrents to reckon the most “in-demand” shows, suggests that Shadow and Bone is doing well, being surpassed by The Last of Us only since season 2 premiered on the streaming giant. As of April 4, 2023, the show was the 15th biggest show.
What can we expect to happen in Shadow and Bone season 3?
Although a majority chunk of content from the main book trilogy has been adapted in season 2, there are a lot of stories left to be visually recounted, which could be done in Shadow and Bone season 3. Towards the end, season 2 covers the events of Seige and Storm and Ruin and Rising. The season 2 finale covers Darkling’s death as well. Interestingly, season 2 deviates from the book content by showcasing the pair splitting up and reflecting a new darkness into Alina’s world.
With that, the show’s creators seem to hint that if Shadow and Bone is renewed for a third season, it will cover a hybrid of original material along with some of the King of Scars duology novels. Additionally, the third season will detail the life of Alina and her identity as a Shadow Summoner if she becomes so in the future. The third season will possibly cover the life of Nikolai, especially after how Shadow and Bone season 2 ended.
For those unversed, here’s the official synopsis of Shadow and Bone season 2 (based on the second book):
“The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her—or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.”
Who are the expected cast members of Shadow and Bone season 3?
Owing to the paucity of information regarding the renewal or cancellation of the show, we do not have a confirmed list of cast members who will possibly feature in Shadow and Bone season 3. However, below-mentioned are the expected cast members who can be featured in the potential third season:
- Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov
- Archie Renaux as Malyen Oretsev
- Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker
- Amita Suman as Inej
- Kit Young as Jesper Fahey
- Ben Barnes as General Kerrigan
- Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar
- Danielle Galligan as Nina Zenik
- Daisy Head as Genya Safin
- Patrick Gibson as Nikolai Lantsov
- Anna Leong Brophy as Tamar Kir-Bataar
- Lewis Tan as Tolya Yul-Bataar
- Jack Wolfe as Wylan Hendriks
- Janet Kumah as Keme
- Joanna Gibbon as Nadya
- Rachel Redford as Fruszi
Is there any spin-off based on Shadow and Bone?
After season 2 premiered, plans were set in place for creating a Shadow and Bone spin-off based on the fourth book of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, Six of Crows, underscoring the lives of Kaz, Jesper, Inej, Wylan, Nina, and Matthias. For those unversed, the book emphasizes the “six of crows” who utilize their talents to Fjerda to undertake a major heist at the Ice Court, which is one of the most protected places in the country.
At the time of writing this article, the streaming giant has not ordered a spin-off. However, the story developer, Eric Heisserer, announced that the series would feature eight episodes. A Shadow and Bone spin-off could only materialize into reality when its doing exponential numbers on Netflix. At the moment, we don’t think that’s the situation.
For more updates on Shadow and Bone season 3, stay tuned to Web News Observer!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Shadow and Bone season 3 canceled?
Although Netflix has not renewed Shadow and Bone for a third season, it has also not canceled it at the moment. However, a lot of fans consider the delayed announcement of the renewal as a cancellation. Be that as it may, we advise the fans to hang in there because season 2 arrived almost two years after season one. A similar timeline is expected for season three.
- Does Alina become evil?
Over the course of the entire show, Alina transforms herself into her enemy by using dark magic to resurrect Mal instead of her light powers.
- Who is the strongest Grisha?
General Kirigan can be considered the strongest Grisha, owing to his ability to use the Cut, a move through which he can conjure darkness as a dagger to cut people. Also known as the Darkling, Kirigan is a Shadow Summoner who can play with the darkness and shadows.