'Shadow and Bone': Air time, how to live stream, plot, trailer and all you need to know about the Netflix fantasy series
'Shadow and Bone' coming soon to Netflix is based primarily on the first book in author Leigh Bardugo's 'Grishaverse' trilogy. 'Shadow and Bone' centers around a young mapmaker Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) whose superpower to summon sunlight, is capable of literally and figuratively blasting away the darkness that envelops her kingdom.
With over 2.5 million copies sold in the English language alone, Bardugo’s Grishaverse books have been translated into 38 languages around the world to date. Before 'Shadow and Bone', an eight-episode Netflix fantasy series releases in April, here's what you should know about it.
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Release date
'Shadow and Bone' is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on April 23, 2021.
Air time and how to live stream
As with all Netflix originals, you will be able to watch 'Shadow and Bone' at 3 am ET (or 12 am PT) on April 23.
Plot
According to the official synopsis, "Shadow and Bone finds us in a war-torn world where lowly soldier and orphan Alina Starkov has just unleashed an extraordinary power that could be the key to setting her country free. With the monstrous threat of the Shadow Fold looming, Alina is torn from everything she knows to train as part of an elite army of magical soldiers known as Grisha. But as she struggles to hone her power, she finds that allies and enemies can be one and the same and that nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. There are dangerous forces at play, including a crew of charismatic criminals, and it will take more than magic to survive."
Cast
Jessie Mei Li
Jessica Mei Li is an English actor who uses she/her and they/them pronouns. She will star as Alina Starkov in the upcoming Netflix series 'Shadow and Bone' and will also play Lara Chung in Edgar Wright's 'Last Night in Soho'. Her stage work includes the 2019 production of 'All About Eve'.
Ben Barnes
Ben Barnes is of course possibly best known for his role as Prince Capsian in 'The Chronicles of Narnia' franchise. Barnes's other notable roles include Logan Delos in 'Westworld', Billy Russo in 'The Punisher' and Tom Ward in the fantasy film 'Seventh Son'.
Showrunners
In January 2019, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for an eight-episode first season with Eric Heisserer as showrunner, creator, head writer, and executive producer. Heisserer wrote the screenplay for Netflix’s 'Bird Box', based on a novel, which has set new Netflix viewing records. He co-wrote the screenplay for Sony’s 'Bloodshot', the Vin Diesel starrer based on the comic book series. He also has 'Simultaneous', a series based on his short story, in development at Hulu.
Also set to executive produce are Leigh Bardugo herself as well as Pouya Shahbazian, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen, and Josh Barry. On October 2, 2019, it was announced Lee Toland Krieger would direct the pilot. The project falls under the Netflix overall deal for Levy’s 21 Laps.
Trailer
There's only one word that comes to mind when watching this trailer-epic. 'Shadow and Bone' brings together the stories and characters of both 'Shadow and Bone' and 'Six of Crows', two overlapping series that take place in Bardugo’s Grishaverse If you've been missing the 'Chronicles of Narnia' series then this is a must-watch and Alina Starkov seems to be just the sort of sassy heroine the world needs right now.
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