Netflix Cancels 'Shadow and Bone' After 2 Seasons Amid Strike Cutbacks
Netflix cancels 'Shadow and Bone' after 2 seasons, citing restructuring efforts Season 3 scrapped as streaming giant reshapes its content lineup
Dávid Lukács/Netflix
Shadow and Bone is one of five shows canceled by Netflix following of the end of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
The fantasy series, adapted from the Shadow and Bone trilogy and Six of Crows duology, was canceled by Netflix after two seasons. Deadline first reported this on November 15, along with the cancellations of Glamourous, Agent Elvis, Farzar, and Captain Fall, all of which had only one season before being removed from the streaming site.
Shadow and Bone premiered in 2021, introducing Alina Starkov, an orphan who discovers her ability to control sunlight as a Grisha. Throughout her journey, Alina is resolute in her mission to dismantle the Shadow Fold, all while facing off against the formidable Kirigan, also known as Darkling.
In the season 1 finale, the heroes are convinced that they have foiled Kirigan's plans. However, the final moments of the episode hint at Kirigan's newfound mastery over the volcra, eerie undead creatures.
"He portrays the most formidable individual in the entire universe, adept at manipulating darkness and instilling fear in others as he pursues his own agenda," shared Barnes, 42, in an exclusive interview with us in April 2021. "I've previously portrayed a young hero armed with a sword, seeking to rescue a damsel and vanquish the dragon. However, this character is different. What truly captivates me is the notion that every individual possesses the potential to embody all aspects of humanity."
Production for the second season concluded in June 2022, although it wasn't until March that it became available on Netflix. Despite its popularity, Shadow and Bone's second installment did not achieve the same level of success as its predecessor, as reported by Deadline. The publication noted that, although the fantasy drama consistently appeared in the weekly Top 10 for English-language series on Netflix for five weeks, it never claimed the top spot.
Renewing Shadow and Bone would have potentially led to production delays due to strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) in Hollywood.
The WGA strike came to an end in September after nearly five months of picketing. The negotiating committee for the WGA sent an email to its members, expressing their pride in the exceptional deal they had achieved. This deal includes significant gains and protections for writers across all sectors of the membership. They reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
On the other hand, the SAG-AFTRA strike extended until November. While the WGA has ratified their contract, the SAG union is still in discussions with AMPTP to secure better safeguards for its members against AI technology, improved streaming residuals, and higher wages for actors.
At the time of publication, there was no confirmation from Netflix about the status of the rumored Six of Crows spinoff for Shadow and Bone. Showrunner Eric Heisserer mentioned in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in March that he was working on developing the spinoff quietly. Heisserer expressed his excitement for the project, mentioning that the scripts for the eight-episode series are exceptional. Netflix has not provided any comments regarding the potential new series.
