Netflix’s Shadow and Bone adaptation casts seven new roles

Grishaverse fans awaiting updates about Netflix’s Shadow and Bone adaptation were in luck today. Author Leigh Bardugo, whose works the series is based on, has been hinting at some big news, and now, seven new cast members have been announced, rounding out the main cast and side characters crucial to the storyline. Included in the casting announcement are Calahan Skogman, Zoë Wanamaker (pictured above), Kevin Eldon, Julian Kostov, Luke Pasqualino, Jasmine Blackborow and Gabrielle Brooks.

Skogman is probably the most notable addition, as he’ll be playing Matthias Helvar, one of the main members of the Six of Crows gang. It’s not clear how big of a role the characters from Six of Crows will play in the show’s first season, given they initially didn’t appear until Bardugo’s second book series, but it’s possible fans will get a glimpse of Matthias’ backstory prior to the storylines of Six of Crows.

Wanamaker and Elton will also be portraying fairly important characters from The Grisha Trilogy, with Wanamaker tackling the role of Baghra and Eldon portraying the Apparat. While Baghra is the brutal and intimidating teacher of our main character, Alina Starkov, the Apparat takes on a more antagonistic role, playing the questionable religious advisor to the king and the Darkling.

Speaking of the Darkling — Or General Kirigan, as he’ll be known during the show’s first season — Kostov will portray Fedyor, one of his loyal followers who also happens to be a Heartrender. It’ll be interesting to see how Shadow and Bone interprets this character, along with the rest of the Darkling’s followers.

The rest of the new actors will play Alina’s peers, all of whom are living at the Little Palace and being educated on how to use their powers. Pasqualino will portray David, a Grisha Fabrikator who’s dedicated to studying science and inventing things with his powers. Blackborrow and Brooks will play Marie and Nadia respectively, both Grisha who befriend Alina and show her the ropes of the Little Palace.

These actors join the already-announced cast, which includes Jessie Mei Li, Archie Reneaux, Ben Barnes, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Sujaya Dasgupta, Danielle Galligan, Daisy Head and Simon Sears. Production on the series is currently underway, though there’s no definitive timeline for when filming will begin or when the episodes will hit Netflix. Fans of Bardugo’s world will have to remain on the lookout for further updates, but it’s good to see the series slowly taking shape — and if the casting is anything to judge by, things are looking promising.

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