Shadow and Bone season 3 potential release date, cast, plot and everything you need to know

Shadow and Bone is *finally* back for season two – and General Kirigan, aka The Darkling, is bigger, badder and more powerful than ever before.

Our Sun Summoner Alina had a lot on her plate this season, forced to protect Ravka from further chaos by attempting to bring down the Fold and Kirigan's reign of terror once and for all. (With some new allies in tow, of course.)

Alas, Kirigan lives on and the stakes have been raised, so what does the future now hold for Alina and co?

Here’s everything you need to know about Shadow and Bone season three.

Shadow and Bone season 3 potential release date: When will it be on?

Given Shadow and Bone's wild success, we think it's safe to say that season three is pretty much a sure thing.

After all, showrunner Eric Heisserer previously told Collider that he's always had a "three-season plan" for the show.

Author Leigh Bardugo, meanwhile, has slightly bigger hopes for the Grishaverse, telling Inverse that she'd "love to see us get another five seasons." Now that would be epic.

Shadow and Bone's first season was released on Netflix back in April 2021, but it was nearly a two-year wait for season two thanks a to a little something called the pandemic.

Production on TV shows and movies seem to be in full swing again, though, so based on the release dates of the previous two seasons, our best guess is that Shadow and Bone will return for a third season in the spring of next year.

As always, we'll let you know as soon as we hear something more definite.

Shadow and Bone season 3 cast: Who will be in it?

If Shadow and Bone returns for season three, we would expect all of the following cast members to return:
• Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov
• Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker
• Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa
• Kit Young as Jesper Fahey
• Archie Renaux as Mal Oretsev
• Danielle Galligan as Nina Zenik
• Zoë Wanamaker as Baghra
• Luke Pasqualino as David Kostyk

Nikolai Lantsov (Patrick Gibson), Wylan Hendriks (Jack Wolfe), and the twins, Tolya (Lewis Tan) and Tamar (Anna Leong Brophy), were some of the newest additions to season two, so expect to see them all back for round three as well.

One major character who might not return is General Kirigan, aka The Darkling, after what happened to him in the season-two finale. Still though, it's weird to imagine this show losing Ben Barnes completely as he remains the biggest name in the cast, so there might be some scope to bring him back via magic and/or flashbacks, as fantasy shows are wont to do.

Shadow and Bone season 3 plot: What will the third season be about?

No plot details for season three have been revealed just yet as the show hasn't been officially renewed by Netflix at the time of writing.

Leigh Bardugo's novels aren't going to be a huge help when it comes to predicting what's coming next as season two has already covered huge swathes of the source material in one fell swoop. This second batch of episodes covers both the second and third books from the Shadow and Bone trilogy in rapid succession, as well as elements from other Grishaverse books including Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom.

However, that doesn't mean there isn't more story to tell. The season-two finale sort of ends where the original book trilogy does, with the Darkling's death. However, Alina and Mal end up with a happy ending after everyone believes Alina is dead, freeing her up to assume a new identity and reopen the orphanage they grew up in together.

Netflix's adaptation veers drastically away from this by splitting the pair up at the end of season two while also introducing a new darkness into Alina's world. The ultimate end of this series could mirror the books eventually, but there's a lot of new ground to cover in season three first that fans of the books will be blind to moving forward.

Shadow and Bone season 3 trailer: When can we see it?

Sorry, folks. No renewal = no new footage.

But when more news on the show's future is announced (which is surely just a matter of time), you'll find everything you need to know right here

Shadow and Bone seasons 1-2 are streaming on Netflix.