For those that have been hoping for a Shadow and Bone movie adaptation or Grishaverse adaptation, the good news is that Netflix has ordered a Shadow and Bone series for their platform. Here’s what we know:
What’s it about? What’s the plot?
Shadow and Bone will be based off of the Grisha Trilogy and the Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo. Collectively these five books comprise the Grishaverse. The first novel in the Grisha series is entitled Shadow and Bone, though the Netflix’s Shadow and Bone series will be based on all five books.
The second and third books are Seige and Storm and Ruin and Rising, respectively. The spin-off duology books are named Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom.
The first volume of the series was published in June 2012. Since then, in total, the Grishaverse books have sold over 3 million copies in English, with many more sold with over 38 translations all over the world.
What format will it be? Will the Shadow and Bone adaptation be a Movie or a Series?
It’s planned as a eight-episode series.
Who’s behind it?
Eric Heisserer will serve as the creator, writer, showrunner as well as executive producer for the series. Heisserer previously wrote the screenplay for Bird Box (2018) which was another book adaptation (of Bird Box by Josh Malerman) that aired on Netflix.
Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps is producing the series for Netflix. It’s part of a 4-year exclusive producing deal that Netflix signed with 21 Laps beginning in December 2017. From 21 Laps, Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen and Josh Barry will serve as executive producers.
Heisserer and 21 Laps previously collaborated on the movie Arrival (2016) which was produced by 21 Laps and written by Heisserer.
Leigh Bardugo and Pouya Shahbazian (the Divergent series) are also serving as executive producers for the series.
Back in 2012, there was an earlier attempt by Dreamworks to adapt Shadow and Bone to the screen. That project was led by producer David Heyman (Harry Potter) under the Heyday Films label and Jeffrey Clifford (Up in the Air) back when Shadow and Bone was initially released. It made some headway, but seems to have either fizzled out or morphed into the Nexflix deal somehow. Pouya Shahbazian, who was originally attached to the Dreamworks Shadow and Bone adaptation is still a producer for the Netflix project.
This is real. Shadow & Bone AND Six of Crows are coming to @netflix. The #grishaverse is about to come to life. https://t.co/FPD2VbYf2F
— Leigh Bardugo (@LBardugo) January 10, 2019
What’s the status of the Shadow and Bone adaptation?
Eric Heisserer will serve as the writer and showrunner for the adaptation, and the initial cast announcement has been made for the series as of October 2019. The show began filming October 2, 2019.
(Here’s a version of this picture that’s labeled with the characters’ names.)
Who’s in the cast?
The cast currently announced includes:
Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov
Ben Barnes as General Kirigan
Other cast members will include Amita Suman, Freddy Carter, Archie Renaux, Kit Young, Sujaya Dasgupta, Danielle Galligan, Daisy Head, and Simon Sears.
From author Leigh Bardugo: “I was so wary going into this process because these characters have lived in my head for so long. Turns out I had nothing to fear. Watching these actors begin to inhabit these roles has been pure magic.”
Day One #shadowandbone @netflix @LBardugo @HIGHzurrer pic.twitter.com/wuI9ECf6ZY
— Ben Barnes (@benbarnes) October 2, 2019
When will it be released?
It’ll begin airing April 23, 2021.
Is there a trailer or teaser available?
Not yet! Stay tuned.
Shadow and Bone Movie / Series Development Timeline
June 5, 2012 Shadow and Bone (novel) is released.
September 12, 2012 Dreamworks acquires the film rights to Shadow and Bone.
February 12, 2013 Dreamworks in negotiations with screenwriter to pen Shadow and Bone adaptation.
June 4, 2013 Seige and Storm (novel) is released.
October 24, 2013 The Shadow and Bone adaptation is still in the works at Dreamworks.
June 17, 2014 Ruin and Rising (novel) is released.
September 29, 2015 Six of Crows (novel) is released.
September 27, 2016 Crooked Kingdom (novel) is released.
January 10, 2019 Netflix orders the Shadow and Bone series to be produced by Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps.
October 2, 2019 Initial cast announced for the Grishaverse adaptation, including ‘Westworld’s Ben Barnes & ‘Last Night In Soho’s Jessie Mei Li.
October 2, 2019 Actor Ben Barnes announces via twitter the first day of filming.
March 3, 2020 Shadow and Bone series in post-production
