Every day that passes we are one step closer to seeing Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse come to life! I am dying for this adaption from the behind-the-scenes footage alone.
If you're new here, the Grishaverse is comprised of the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo. It all started with a Ravkan girl who has the power to unite her country. Bardugo expanded the world with a group of bastards and thieves ruling the canals of Ketterdam, and it just keeps getting better with recent novels. Books in the Grishaverse have sold over 2.5 million copies, been translated in 38 languages to date, and is the latest YA series to be brought to life on the small screen. The TV adaption is helmed by Eric Heisserer (Bird Box) for Netflix. Shadow and Bone has everything I love in fantasy: epic love, delectable villains, charming scoundrels, and girls with the power to change the world. Get ready for your new obsession.
1. This cast is EVERYTHING and looks like they're ready to take on the Shadow Fold and the mean streets of Ketterdam.
If you were on Tumblr sometime in 2012, then you might have come across a breezy thousand fancasts of Ben Barnes as the Darkling. Well, it is 2020 and dreams come true. It's particularly refreshing to see up-and-coming actors get the opportunity to shine with recently announced vets like Zoë Wanamaker. The rest of the main cast is as follows: (left to right) Kit Young will play sharpshooter Jesper Fahey, Freddy Carter will play Kaz "Dirty Hands" Brekker, our girl Alina Starkov will be played by Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux will play Malyen Oretsev, and Amita Suman bring to life Inej Ghafa. *a million heart eyes emojis*
2. Shadow and Bone was predominately filmed in Budapest.
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The fictional countries of Ravka and Ketterdam are heavily inspired by Russia and the Netherlands respectively. But it's hard to film in a world that has only until recently, existed in the pages of books. I can't wait to see how this historic city in Hungary becomes the center of the Grishaverse.
3. The actors genuinely seem to love what they are doing and it's clear from their Instagram photos.
I stan a cast that loves one another. Seriously, how freaking adorable are they? I'm sure this is the only instance Kaz Brekker has laughed canonically??
4. David J. Peterson, who invented the Dothraki language in the Game of Thrones show, created the fantasy language in Shadow and Bone.
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This is a legit RAVKAN version of Shadow and Bone the book, which, according to Bardugo's Instagram, is briefly shown in a scene. Meta goals? Fantasy polyglots, get ready to learn a new language.
5. The actors have really gotten into their roles.
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In Six of Crows I fell in love with Nina (a Grisha) and Matthias (a Grisha hunter) and their "mortal enemies" to "waffle friends" romance. Danielle Galligan posted this photo with Calahan Skogman with the caption "Here’s me just trying to make @calahan.skogman laugh..." which nails their dynamic in the books.
6. Ben Barnes is listed as having not one, but two roles.
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The Darkling is the mysterious and beautiful leader of Ravka's Second Army. Though he's lived over a hundred years and gone by many names, the show presents us with a new one. Kirigan. Ben Barnes is listed as both General Kirigan and the Darkling. I hope this means that our shadow villain's history will be expanded on the screen. But most of all, I love that Luke Pasqualino (cast as brilliantly mad scientist David Kostyk) calls him "Uncle Kirigan."
7. The Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows timelines are likely to be different in the show.
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When news of the adaption dropped, one detail stood out: the plot of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows would overlap. *extreme nerd voice* ~If you've read the books~, you know that the Crows's timeline is a few years after the S&B trilogy. A bit of the backstory in Six of Crows is told in seamless flashbacks. I can only speculate, but I think we'll get to see how Kaz builds his trusted team of thugs and thieves, and perhaps a bit of who they were before they came together as the baddest gang in Ketterdam.
8. Things change in adaptions but it looks like some details remain the same.
Best day ðŸ˜ðŸ–¤
In Leigh Bargudo's newsletter, she gave a tiny sneak peek into the things she saw. She wrote, "Things I got to see on set: amazing fight choreography, a team of six black horses, actual kruge." As for the words the Crows say, well, I might just burst into tears when I hear them speak them. #NoMournersNoFunerals.
9. There is no official date yet, but the Netflix pages are live, and they have a message from the actors!
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The show wrapped filming at the end of February. According to an interview with Sensacine from last year, Bardugo mentioned the show is expected to premiere late 2020. For now, I've got a reminder set on the Shadow & Bone Netflix page. Here's a video with Danielle Galligan being the most Nina Zenik that ever Zeniked.
