Exclusive Insights: Inside the Roadblocks Hindering Shadowhunters' Comeback

Summary

A Shadowhunters season 4 or revival series is unlikely due to ownership issues and the complexity of getting all parties involved.

The future of the series remains uncertain due to the challenging and expensive issue of ownership. However, if a revival were to occur, there are exciting prospects for fresh storylines, such as Clary's journey to recover her lost memories and the introduction of a new generation of Shadowhunters.

According to Alisha Wainwright, it seems unlikely that there will be a fourth season or revival series of Shadowhunters. In the show, Wainwright played the character Maia, a werewolf trying to do what's best for her pack in the Shadowhunters world. While the series is based on a young adult book series, it took some creative liberties to create a unique and immersive television show. The previous movie adaptation, titled The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, did not perform well at the box office, preventing the planned sequel, City of Ashes. As a result, the story was adapted into a TV series with a new cast.

Shadowhunters is based on Cassandra Clare's popular book series, The Mortal Instruments, which centers around Clary Fray. On her eighteenth birthday, Clary discovers a hidden world of supernatural beings. She is a Shadowhunter, a hybrid of angel and human, tasked with protecting humanity from demons. The series aired for three seasons on Freeform, concluding in 2019 with a special supersized finale episode. Despite this, fans continue to express their desire for a fourth season of Shadowhunters.

Why Shadowhunters Season 4 Likely Won't Happen

In an interview with Screen Rant promoting her movie There's Something Wrong with the Children, Alisha Wainwright discusses the possibility of bringing back the beloved supernatural series Shadowhunters. She acknowledges the ongoing popularity of the show, with fans still deeply connected to it. However, she highlights the intricate issues surrounding ownership of the property, making it a challenging endeavor to revive the series.

Shadowhunters holds a special place in my heart, as I gained valuable acting and craft knowledge through the experience. It would be amazing to reunite the entire cast. It truly saddens me when I see it trending on Twitter. However, the process of making it happen requires approval from numerous influential individuals. I have doubts about its feasibility.

Constantin Film, a German production company, is responsible for bringing Cassandra Clare's books to both the big screen and television. While Screen Gems partnered with Constantin Film for the movie adaptation, the television series involved multiple studios. It is likely that Constantin Film still retains the rights, as there have been no reports of the rights being sold or transferred to another studio. However, other studios that contributed to the show's television or streaming distribution may also have a stake in the property. In order for a fourth season of Shadowhunters to happen, Constantin Film would need to express interest. Additionally, contractual agreements with other production studios would need to be taken into account.

What A Shadowhunters Revival Might Look Like

The Shadowhunters series concluded in 2019, leaving fans eager for a potential continuation in either Shadowhunters season 4 or a movie comeback. Unfortunately, according to Wainwright, a revival appears unlikely due to complicated ownership issues. Despite this, many shows have been unexpectedly revived, even years later. With dedicated fan support, while it may seem unlikely, it is not entirely impossible.

The series finale of Shadowhunters not only wrapped up the main storylines but also introduced a new world order. Alec now serves as the Inquisitor of the Clave and is married to Magnus, who assumes the role of High Warlock of Alicante. Isabelle takes over Alec's position as the Head of the New York Institute and is involved in a romantic relationship with Simon, who becomes a Downworlder Deputy of the institute. Luke returns to being a Shadowhunter, and Maia assumes his former position as alpha of the werewolf pack. Although most characters find happiness in the end, Clary has her Shadow World memories erased, and Jace struggles to move forward. However, in the concluding moments, Clary regains her ability to see Jace and appears to remember him.

What Shadowhunters Season 4 Would've Looked Like

The potential revival of Shadowhunters opens up captivating possibilities for the Shadow World. If this revival materializes, the storyline could focus on Clary's journey of regaining her memory by seeking the forgiveness and trust of the angel. Additionally, it would be intriguing to explore how the Shadow World functions under the leadership of the new generation. Introducing a new threat would reunite the original team and provide Clary with an opportunity to validate her desire to once again become a Shadowhunter.

The conclusion of Shadowhunters' third season caught showrunners Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin off guard. To tie up loose ends, several storylines that were originally intended to have longer durations were abruptly resolved, making way for open-ended conclusions. Had there been a fourth season of Shadowhunters, viewers would have witnessed a more gradual unraveling of these storylines.

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The final moment between Jace and Clary in the series stands out as one of those things. Even though Clary has lost her Shadowhunter status and her memories, she is still able to recognize Jace in the show's flash forward. Show creator Swimmer revealed that this was intentional, as Clary was always meant to be a Shadowhunter. The decision to have Clary lose her memory and include a time jump was made when the creators knew the show was coming to an end. Instead of this storyline, Season 4 would have focused on Clary healing from the Dark Clary arc, with Jace by her side. They would have had a chance at a normalized relationship, providing a peak of normalcy for the Shadowhunters world. The fandom would have welcomed these moments, such as their dates on the ice rink and their dinner with Simon, as they showcase the more human side of their relationship.

Simon and Izzy's relationship was intended to develop slowly in season 3, with the original plan being to end the season with a cliffhanger kiss. However, the writers had initially envisioned a twist where Izzy would be consumed by fire after the kiss, leaving fans hanging. Showrunner Slavkin explained that season 4 would then focus on healing Izzy and continue the slow burn storyline. Interestingly, Sizzy fans were fortunate in a way because the writers had to accelerate their storyline.

In a hypothetical Shadowhunters season 4, fans would have been interested in seeing a more significant involvement of Jonathan and the Seelie Queen. Unfortunately, these storylines had to be concluded in season 3, resulting in the deaths of both characters. The showrunners had initially planned for the Seelie Queen to be featured throughout a whole season, gradually developing the relationship between the characters. However, due to the series being canceled, these storylines had to be cut short.

Additionally, if there had been a season 4, more screen time would have been dedicated to supporting characters who were gradually being introduced in season 3, and villains like Lilith would have had longer story arcs. Many Shadowhunters storylines had to be shortened or abandoned due to the series ending. Despite not having the screen rights to Shadowhunters, the showrunners have expressed openness to the idea of a reunion movie or limited series if negotiations permit. Therefore, while a fourth season of Shadowhunters is unlikely, it is still a possibility in the future.