Fans are devastated and in a state of mourning after the recent cancellation of the well-liked Netflix series Shadow and Bone. Despite the heartbreak, the cast members continue to show resilience and gratitude. Amita Suman, who played the tough and resolute character Inej Ghafa in the fantasy series, recently posted an emotional tribute to the show’s devoted fan base that also demonstrated the cast’s firm spirit.
Shadow and Bone season 2 premiered on Netflix in early 2023, following a two-year break. Sadly, it has now been officially confirmed, after months of anticipation, that a third season of the show will not be made.
Based on the Grishaverse books by Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone, a big-budget fantasy series on Netflix, was directed by Eric Heisserer and starred Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, and Ben Barnes. Season 1 debuted on Netflix in April 2021, and season 2 followed nearly two years later in March 2023.
Also read: Shadow And Bone Has Wrapped Up Production, Epic Season 2 Coming Soon
Amita Suman Responds to Shadow and Bone Cancellation in a Moving Note
Using the poignant phrase “No mourners, no funerals”, which is evocative of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, Amita Suman, 26, revealed her heart in a touching tweet. This moving ode not only captured the series’ shocking cancellation but also the enduring bond that was created between the actors, their characters, and the audience. She posted an image on X, saying
“I don’t know what I did to deserve the sheer amount of love, know that in my prayers I send thanks and a smile every day for you, everyone involved and the reasons above. With infinite gratitude, no mourners, no funerals.”
Season 2 featured the return of beloved Grishaverse novelist Leigh Bardugo’s characters. After the first season, which introduced viewers to The Darkling (Ben Barnes), Mal (Archie Renaux), Kaz (Freddy Carter), Inej (Amita Suman), and Jesper (Kit Young), it was well-received and brought back the entire cast in the second season, along with more new characters. Suman, as Inej Ghafa, is more of a stereotypical girl; her role is that of a vicious, powerful, and supremely amazing knife-wielding assassin.
The Nepali-British actress told Vogue:
“Inej [her character] is unique in that she is a b*dass woman of colour in an epic fantasy drama. And I am not just ticking the diversity box in a big Netflix production.”
However, the fact that Inej is fundamentally a morally responsible assassin is what really caught her attention. She added the following:
“She’s a spy in the Dregs, which are a group of thieves and thugs in Ketterdam, a fictional place in the Grishaverse. She’s had a traumatic past of s*xual abuse and she becomes the most feared assassin in her country..”
Because of this, she expressed her gratitude for her time on the show and the sense of community that had grown up around Shadow and Bone throughout the world.
Also read: Shadow And Bone: 20 Behind-The-Scenes Facts
Why was Shadow and Bone canceled by Netflix after Season 2?
According to Variety, Netflix decided to review its content strategy in light of the impact of the 2023 strikes by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) on both the film industry and Netflix TV programming.
This led to the cancellation of Shadow and Bone. In other words, Season 3 will not be available on Netflix because the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the studios refused to give writers and actors a fair deal for several months.
Meanwhile, THR reports that, in addition to Shadow and Bone, Netflix has also canceled Agent Elvis, Captain Fall, Glamorous, and Farzar following the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA strike.
As per Screen Rant, Shadow and Bone’s cancellation by Netflix is not solely due to the protracted work stoppage (the SAG-AFTRA strike lasted 118 days, while the WGA strike lasted 148 days). According to Variety’s report, the number of viewers for the fantasy television show did not justify its production costs. After the strikes ended, Netflix examined how the work stoppages affected earnings and whether the popularity of a show was sufficient to justify a second season renewal.
Unfortunately, the streaming service decided that the casts of Captain Fall, Glamorous, Agent Elvis, Farzaar, and Shadow and Bone could not recoup their production expenses from their viewership.
Both seasons of Shadow and Bone are streaming on Netflix.
Also read: Netflix Working on Top Secret Shadow and Bone ‘Crows of Ketterdam’ Spinoff Series
