Netflix Is Making A ‘Shadow And Bone’ TV Series
Netflix is currently killing the book-to-screen-adaptation game with “Bridgerton” (which I may have watched multiple times already). And how they’re hopping on the trend with the popular young adult fantasy series “Shadow and Bone.”
The series is set to begin streaming on April 23, but Netflix teased it’s viewers by releasing photo stills showing the world of Shadow and Bone coming to life.
What We Know about the Screen Adaptation
Shadow and Bone is a young adult fantasy series that’s also known as The Grisha Trilogy. Leigh Bardugo, the author of the original series and an executive producer, describes the series as different from other young adult fantasy series.
She says, "Shadow and Bone takes place in a very different kind of fantasy world. Think Imperial Russia, not Medieval England, repeating rifles instead of broadswords. It's a story about the people who have been told how much they don't matter proving how much they do.”
So, your typical epic fantasy but make it YA and kind of Russian? I’m in!
On January 27, Netflix released seven photos from the series set to be released on April 23 that give fans a sneak peek into Bardugo’s fictional land, Ravka. The photos reveal a wintery fantasy wonderland of diverse characters ready to fight. It looks more gritty than glamorous, but still, the scenery and costumes are stunning.
Bardugo said, “It's been incredible to see that story take shape on such an epic scale, the battles, the magic, but also the relationships between the characters. These photos give just a tiny hint at what's in store — a mapmaker with an extraordinary gift, the people who want to use her, the tracker who will do anything to protect her, and the team of thugs and thieves who are about to cause some very big trouble for everyone involved."
The story follows an orphaned girl named Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) who discovers that she has fantastical powers and joins the First Army to fight for her country. Other characters include Alina’s childhood friend and tracker Malyen Oretsev (Archie Renaux), General Kirigan of the Second Army (Ben Barnes), Jasper Fahey (Kit Young), Inej Ghafa (Amita Suman), Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter), Nina Zenik (Danielle Galligan), and Mattias Helvar (Calahan Skogman).
As of writing this, the show doesn’t seem to be too different from the books, which is expected with Bardugo as an executive producer on the show. Fans also seem to be loving the photos so far and are excited for the show to stream in April.
Will Netflix Do a Good Job with Shadow and Bone?
Netflix has a mixed bag of original content. Shows like The Queen’s Gambit and Stranger Things are fantastic, while shows like Pretty Tiny Things and Fate: The Winx Saga didn’t receive good reviews. However, Netflix is currently killing it in the book-to-screen-adaptation genre, with Bridgerton being the most-watched show in the history of the streaming platform. If Netflix keeps riding it’s current wave of book-to-screen-adaptation success, Shadow and Bone should be amazing.
With the original author having power behind the show, it will likely ring true to the book series.
It’s also important to mention that author Leigh Bardugo is an executive producer on the show. With the original author having power behind the show, it will likely ring true to the book series, making it more popular with fans. However, this doesn’t absolve critics and fans of being critical of the show when it begins streaming.
Closing Thoughts
The photo stills of Shadow and Bone show Leigh Bardugo’s fictional world come to life, making fans excited for the show's upcoming release. If the show is as awesome as these photos, it will sure be one to watch when it’s available to stream on Netflix on April 23.
If you’re in the mood for a period movie right now, check out our favorite period films you can stream right now!