Netflix's wave of fantasy titles has only just begun. The latest is an adaptation of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse trilogy called Shadow & Bone. Based on Russian folklore, the series follows a young orphan, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), who discovers she is a Grisha (a manipulator of the elements) who has a very rare ability. As fans count down the days until Netflix's Shadow & Bone release date (April 23), here's what we know about the series so far:
Like Netflix's runaway hit The Witcher, Shadow & Bone is inspired by Eastern European folklore; although this time, it's Russian-based instead of Polish. As author Bardugo put it in quotes shared via Netflix: "Think Imperial Russia, not Medieval England; repeating rifles instead of broadswords."
It's a story of magic and betrayal. In the book series, Alina's abilities make her a valuable asset to the Kingdom of Ravka, where she was raised, and a target of assassination from its enemies. She's taken under the wing of the head of the Grisha, known as the Darkling, but it turns out, not all her enemies are outsiders. Some are the people she trusts the most.
The latest trailer for Shadow & Bone outlines Alina's journey, but also serves as an introduction to the fantasy world of the Grishaverse.
Jessie Mei Li (All About Eve) leads the Shadow & Bone cast as Alina Starkov, whose special abilities set the plot in motion. Archie Renaux, last seen in Acorn TV's Gold Digger, plays her best friend, Mal. Ben Barnes, who fans will know from Westworld and Marvel's The Punisher, plays Alina's mentor, General Kirigan, aka the Darkling. Zoë Wanamaker (Harry Potter) plays Baghra, another of Alina's tutors.
Meanwhile, in the show's other main plot, Freddy Carter (Pennyworth) plays Kaz Brekker, with Amita Suman (Doctor Who) as Inej and Kit Young (Endeavour) as Jesper Fahey. Danielle Galligan (Cold Courage) plays fellow Grisha Nina Zenik, and newcomer Calahan Skogman plays Matthias.
The series is called Shadow & Bone after the book trilogy's first novel. In keeping with that, the synopsis suggests the main plot will be from the first book:
Shadow & Bone finds us in a war-torn world where lowly soldier and orphan Alina Starkov has just unleashed an extraordinary power that could be the key to setting her country free. With the monstrous threat of the Shadow Fold looming, Alina is torn from everything she knows to train as part of an elite army of magical soldiers known as Grisha. But as she struggles to hone her power, she finds that allies and enemies can be one and the same and that nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. There are dangerous forces at play, including a crew of charismatic criminals, and it will take more than magic to survive.
But even so, the series seems to be taking a more ensemble approach to the material. The "crew of charismatic criminals" are obviously the lead characters from Bardugo's Six of Crows. How exactly they'll tie into the story remains to be seen.
Shadow & Bone will arrive on Netflix on Friday, April 23, 2021, with eight episodes.
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