Shadow And Bone is a hugely popular fantasy series on Netflix that aired for two seasons between 2021 and 2023, with many audiences wondering whether the show will be returning for a third installment.
The series is based on the novels of the same name by author Leigh Bardugo, which follow the story of a young soldier, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) who uses her magical powers to unite the world against sinister forces beyond their control. It’s been praised for its extensive world-building and complex plotlines, which are dragged directly from Bardugo’s novels and adapted for the screen.
Though some Shadow and Bone book details are missing from the show, the writers do try their best to stay accurate to the novels - and this story certainly wasn’t finished by the end of season 2. The show ended on a pretty dramatic cliffhanger with Alina losing her powers and gaining some darker ones, so there’s plenty of room for a narrative to grow if Netflix decide to pursue a season 3.
Shadow And Bone Season 3 Is Not Confirmed
People standing ritualistically in Shadow and Bone
Although Shadow and Bone’s cliffhanger ending proves that the show’s crew want to continue with the story and develop these characters, there has been no official announcement from Netflix regarding the future of the series. The service has proven in the past that it’s not afraid of canceling shows before they’re finished, so it’s possible that season 3 might never get released - but plenty of Shadow and Bone fans are fighting to save the show. Given the series’ popularity and the many attempts by fans to ensure its renewal, it’s likely that Netflix will allow the show to continue into a third season.
David looking serious in Shadow and Bone
Season 3 of Shadow and Bone obviously doesn’t have a release date yet since it hasn’t been confirmed, but it probably won’t be long before audiences are given an update on the show’s progress. Presuming the show is renewed once Netflix has had more time to analyze season 2’s viewership numbers, it shouldn’t be any more than two years before it’s back on the streaming service. There was roughly a two-year gap between the first and second seasons, so the crew is clearly capable of working in such a short timeframe - and with the budget that Netflix will inevitably provide, the post-production work should also be sped up a little.
The Darkling looking serious in Shadow and Bone season 2
If Shadow and Bone returns for a third season, much of the existing cast would need to return for the story to continue logically. The prioritization of Mal and Alina’s relationship in season 2 suggests that their romance is going to play a large role in the future of the show, with Archie Renaux and Jessie Mei Li hopefully returning to these characters. The show wouldn’t be the same without them, and their importance in the overall narrative of the series is growing rapidly.
The ending of Shadow and Bone’s season 2 also saw Mal become a privateer alongside Inej, Tamar, and Tolya - meaning these characters will probably play a large role in season 3; they’re played by Amita Suman, Anna Leong Brophy, and Lewis Tan respectively. The finale also included a scene where Kaz spoke about the future of the Crows, implying that both he and his troupe will be returning to the show - so Freddy Carter’s return to the role can also be expected.
Shadow And Bone Season 3 Story Details
Alina using her powers in Shadow and Bone
No story details have yet been released for season 3 of Shadow and Bone, but the final episode of season 2 did a great job of setting up the future while raising some important questions that need to be answered. The story will definitely focus on Alina’s new powers, exploring how they’re different from the abilities she’s displayed in the past, with the dark magic potentially having an effect on her. The character’s relationships with both Mal and Nikolai will also play a large role in the narrative, as they changed drastically throughout season 2.
Season 3 of Shadow and Bone will also have to deal with the fallout of some dramatic moments from its preceding installment, including the deaths of major characters, such as General Kirigan/The Darkling and David. Not only will their absence from the story have an impact on the overall tone and atmosphere, but others will need time to grieve for them and might find themselves changed by their deaths. Many of season 2’s ideas were pulled from the Crooked Kingdom novel, so it’s likely that season 3 will continue using this book as inspiration for these characters’ journeys.
Will Shadow And Bone's Six Of Crows Spinoff Happen?
Nina, Kaz, Wylan, and Jesper sitting in a pub in Shadow and Bone
It was reported in March 2023 that Shadow and Bones’ crew was also working on a spinoff project based on the Six of Crows, another novel in Bardugo’s saga. Since then, the show’s writers have claimed that Six of Crows’ script is already in progress, confirming that the project is going ahead. While the show will be separate from Shadow and Bone, there’s bound to be some overlap given how tightly-connected these universes are - and some of the characters from the Six of Crows novel already appear in the Shadow and Bone show (such as Nina and Matthias), so there are endless possibilities for crossovers between the two.
The existence of Six of Crows could also affect season 3 of Shadow and Bone if the writers decide to have these two shows running simultaneously with some crossover. It’s entirely possible that certain storylines will bleed over from the spinoff, or the other way around, giving audiences a reason to watch both in order to catch up with their favorite characters. This could even be the beginning of Netflix’s attempts to turn Shadow and Bone into a franchise, proving that the studio has faith in the project and even further suggesting that it will return for a season 3.
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