First look at Netflix’s dark new fantasy series Shadow and Bone – but will it beat The Witcher?
NETFLIX fantasy fans are in for a treat with its dark new series Shadow and Bone.
But will it top The Witcher?
Shadow and Bone is based on Leigh Bardugo's worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels.
Bardugo is also executive producer on the eight-part Netflix series set in a war-torn world, think Imperial Russia, not Medieval England, with rifles instead of broadswords.
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 forced to leave everything she knows to train as part of a special army of magical soldiers known as Grisha.
But as she trains to become an elite fighter she struggles to hone her power, and she finds that allies and enemies can be one and the same.
There are dangerous forces at play, including a crew of charismatic criminals, and it will take more than magic to survive.
Bardugo said about her books coming to life on screen: "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."
Showrunner Eric Heisserer says they worked tirelessly to craft a lived-in feel for the fictional lands like Ketterdam and Ravka, with invented languages, uniforms, currency, and artistic choices from set design to costuming.
He adds: "You're immersed in the Grishaverse when you read, and it's our hope that both new and existing fans have that same feeling when they watch the show. The series has an incredibly passionate fanbase and we can't wait for new people to discover the magic that is Shadow and Bone."
Photos from the show, due for release on April 23rd, give a peek at the eight key characters.
The Netflix images introduce Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), Malyen Oretsev (Archie Renaux), General Kirigan (Ben Barnes), Jesper Fahey (Kit Young), Inej Ghafa (Amita Suman), Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter), Nina Zenik (Danielle Galligan) and Matthias Helvar (Calahan Skogman).
No doubt they all hope the show will replicate the huge success of The Witcher.
The Henry Cavill lead fantasy was dubbed the next Game of Thrones when it hit screens in 2019 and has spawned a second series, a spin-off movie, and a prequel, The Witcher: Blood Origin, which was announced back in July.
But die hard fantasy fans are yet to compare it to The Witcher and have only shared their excitement for Shadow and Bone on Twitter.
Most read in Drama
So far, one said: "Netflix better not f**k up when it comes to casting Prince Nikolai in Shadow and Bone. I simp for this guy so hard."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Another wrote: "Shadow and Bone promo pictures have me SCREAMING, I can’t believe I have to wait three more months."
One more tweeted: "I am so excited. Can't wait to watch an actual trailer."