Shadow and Bone Season 2 premiered on Netflix on March 16, two years after its well-received debut. Given how quickly fans devoured the first season, it is not surprising they have binge-watched the latest installment in a day. So, now, they are probably wondering if there will be a third season.
The show is based on not one, but two series from Leigh Bardugo: the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology. The second season, based on the novel Siege and Storm, significantly increased the stakes for the main characters while leaving several crucial questions unanswered, leaving viewers hungry for more.
So, it is safe to assume that Alina’s journey is far from over. Is she now a true Shadow Summoner? Will she and Mal get back together? Is Ravka’s King Nikolai infected with darkness? Let’s see what awaits us.
Shadow and Bone Season 3: A look at the plot, cast, and tentative release window
Netflix is yet to renew Shadow and Bone for a third season, which may worry some fans given the streaming giant’s recent penchant for canceling shows left and right. However, as Season 2 serves as the middle chapter of Leigh Bardugo’s hugely popular Shadow and Bone trilogy, with plenty of subsequent books to draw inspiration from for future seasons, Netflix dropping the ball now would seem extremely shortsighted.
Eric Heisserer, showrunner, also told Collider that the team always planned for another season, saying, “It was a three-year plan that I laid out, or a three-season plan.” So, Season 3 is a foregone conclusion. If filming begins this year, we should see Shadow and Bone Season 3 by 2024 or 2025.
Plot
Are you curious about what will happen in Season 3 of Shadow and Bone? Well, as of today, it has no official plot synopsis. However, thanks to the book series, we aren’t completely in the dark. If you haven’t read them already, now is a good time to start reading Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows series.
Season 2 covered the majority of the events in Storm and Siege, the second novel in Bardugo’s trilogy. So it stands to reason that the third season of Shadow and Bone will adapt the third book in the Grishaverse, Ruin and Rising.
In the Season 2 finale and the book, we see that Alina has been ushered into sainthood thanks to some pilgrims and Soldat Sol. And it’s just in time, because she will need all the help she can get while still fighting The Darkling’s lingering power and influence. The upcoming season will see another clash between the forces of good and evil, so brace yourself for some high-stakes action as Alina, the Sun Summoner, decides the fate of the nation.
It should be noted, however, that fans saw Alina embrace some pretty dark power in order to resurrect the love of her life, Mal, in the Season 2 finale. Is she now a Shadow Summoner as well? Well, only Season 3 will shade some light on that.
Season 3 will also include more storylines from the Six of Crows books – the Shadow and Bone spin-off stories. Since the Six of Crows books have been linked to the Netflix series since season one, expect to see the gang of misfits return as well.
Cast
While the official Shadow and Bone Season 3 cast is yet to be announced, here’s a recap of everyone who appeared in Season 2: Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov, Archie Renaux as Malyen Oretsev, Ben Bernes as General Kirigan, Patrick Gibson as Nikolai Lantsov, Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker, Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa, Kit Young as Jesper Fahey, Jack Wolfe as Wylan Van Eck, Danielle Galligan as Nina Zenik, Daisy Head as Genya Safin, Lewis Tan as Tolya Yul-Bataar, and Anna Leong Brophy as Tamar Kir-Bataar.
We anticipate that more casting announcements will be made in the coming months.
Release date
So, the question still remains. When will Shadow and Bone Season 3 premiere if it is renewed? The gap between the first two seasons was nearly two years, which is comparable to how long it took other Netflix fantasy shows, for instance, Stranger Things or The Witcher to return with new episodes.
Season 1 wrapped production in February 2020 and premiered just over a year later. Season 2 wrapped in June and premiered nine months later, so if history is any guide, you can expect a shorter wait for Shadow and Bone Season 3 depending on whether or not it’s renewed.
So, to sum up, there hasn’t been an official announcement for Season 3 yet, but we’ll keep you posted on any developments.
