Based on Leigh Bardugo's gorgeous Grishaverse series, Shadow and Bone took Netflix by storm when the first season of the sprawling fantasy debuted in 2021. Set in the fictional Russian-inspired nation of Ravka, the story imagines a world where magic is not only real but those who can wield it are drafted into a secretive army. The action begins when a pair of young orphans are embroiled in the court intrigue and inner workings of the magical elite after one of them is revealed to have strange and legendary powers. With Season 2 on its way to Netflix soon, it's the perfect time to reacquaint yourself with the characters at the heart of the epic story and fantastical world. Luckily, if you need a refresher on who's who — and who's playing who — in the critically acclaimed fantasy series, we've got you covered.
Jessie Mei Li is Alina Starkov / The Sun Summoner
At the heart of Shadow and Bone is the young half-Shu cartographer, Alina Starkov. Played by Jessie Mei Li — who you may have seen in Edgar Wright's One Night in Soho — Alina went from Ravakan army grunt to folkloric Grisha legend when she was revealed to be the Sun Summoner. Her Grisha powers allow her to command sunlight and make her a force to be reckoned with. But after the shocking events of the Season 1 finale she's on the run, trying to find a way to defeat the powerful dark magic user who was once her mentor.
Ben Barnes is General Kirigan / The Darkling
Ben Barnes has gained a legion of fans with roles in fantasy classics like The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and Stardust. But his turn as the nefarious Darkling might end up being his most iconic turn of all. As the leader of the Second Army, General Kirigan crafted a "safe" space for Grisha who were willing to work with the Royalty of Ravka to protect the country. But it was all a ploy. Kirigan is actually a centuries old villain known as the Black Heretic who created the shadow realm known as the Fold and can control the monsters within it. While he tried to harness and manipulate Alina and her powers, he instead created a worthy adversary.
Archie Renaux is Mal Oretsev
Alina's biggest ally is her childhood friend Mal. The pair grew up together in a Ravkan orphanage and were enlisted in the First Army as teenagers. While Mal isn't Grisha he has an uncanny ability when it comes to tracking, which he's used to help Alina on her journey. The pair are now lovers, and Mal will do anything to protect Alina. Renaux is best known for his role as Mal, but you might have seen him in films like Morbius, Voyagers, and Catherine Called Birdy.
Freddy Carter is Kaz Brekker
Kaz is the leader of Shadow and Bone's beloved found family of thieves and scoundrels known as the Crows. He's angry, bitter, and deeply traumatized. His entire life has been lived in the city of Ketterdam, where he's had to fight for survival at every turn. Known as the Bastard of the Barrel, Kaz is coming into Season 2 with a vendetta to carry out and a loyal team of skillful criminal friends at his side, though he would never call them the latter to their faces. Carter's other notable appearances include Wonder Woman and Pennyworth!
Amita Suman is Inej Ghafa
Nicknamed the Wraith, Inej is Kaz's secret weapon. With her near supernatural stealth and gymnastic circus skills, Inej acts as the eyes and ears of the Crows and her close confidante Kaz. She's also one of the most formidable fighters in the Barrel but her past there is dicey. She enters S2, wanted by the Barrel's most dangerous criminal. Suman is just as impressive as the character she plays with roles in The Sandman, Doctor Who, and The Outpost.
Kit Young is Jesper Fahey
One of the breakout characters from last season — and the subject of many fancams — was Young's talented sharpshooter. Charming, suave, and a crack shot, Jesper's wit is almost as quick as his bullets. A key member of the Crows, he's their bodyguard, comedian, and staple romantic. Young is a bundle of loveliness in the role that made his name, but if you're wondering why he looks familiar he's featured in films like The School For Good and Evil and The Origin.
Danielle Galligan is Nina Zenik
As book readers know — and the end of Season 1 hinted — Nina's heartrending skills will put her on the path of some of the show's core characters as Season 2 begins. The cheery and decidedly badass Grisha is a fan favorite for a reason, she takes no quarter and never steps down. Her love for Matthias, the witch hunter who once hated her, is stronger than the terrible mistakes she's made. But whether they'll be reunited is yet to be seen.
Calahan Skogman is Matthias Helvar
Nina's lover and former witch hunter, Matthias, is headed to one of the most brutal prisons in the world of Shadow and Bone. In Season 1 we saw him come to learn that he'd been brainwashed against Grisha by his strict religious upbringing and it was Nina's love that changed that. Those fond feelings are long gone now, though, as he blames her for his arrest. Like Galligan, Shadow and Bone Season 1 was his TV debut and he'll be taking on an even bigger role in Season 2.
Jack Wolfe is Wylan Hendriks
The first of Season 2's big new arrivals this season is Wylan. In the books he's a young aristocrat who's pulled in to help the Crows with their schemes by Kaz Brekker. His talents are mostly in the area of explosives and demolitions, and he has a beloved arc with fellow Crow, Jesper. If you're a Netflix fantasy fan outside of Shadow and Bone then you may have spotted Jack Wolfe when he popped up in an episode of a little show called The Witcher.
Patrick Gibson is Nikolai Lantsov
Another highly-anticipated new addition is the pirate and privateer known as Sturmhond. But as the casting announcement — and official name as used above — reveals, there's another side to the character . His secret identity is a great reveal in the book so we won't tell you too much here, but just know that Nikolai will be stirring things up for Alina, Mal, and the nation of Ravka. Gibson has a pretty stacked resume counting titles like OA, The Spanish Princess, and Tolkien among his credits.
Lewis Tan is Tolya Yul-Battar
The introduction of Nikolai means that viewers will also get to meet his crew including the twins Tolya and Tamar. The former will be played by Mortal Kombat and Wu Assassins star Lewis Tan. The hulking Tolya is a fierce warrior with a heart of gold. His skill at fighting hides a love of poetry and the philosophical mind, and his connection to his sister is more powerful than anything. Tolya and Tamar also have a deep and unexpected connection to the Sun Summoner.
Anna Leong Brophy is Tamar Kir-Battar
Joining Tolya is his aforementioned — and even more badass — sister Tamar. Always wielding her twin axes, Tamar is never far from her brother or Alina's side. She's loyal, funny, and a force of nature. While Tolya will likely make Brophy a household name, the actor has been in a bunch of TV shows including Ragdoll, Traces, The Billion Dollar Code, and more. You might also recognize her dulcet tones from her voice acting in Horizon Forbidden West.
Daisy Head is Genya Safin
Alina's one time confidante ended Season 1 on the wrong side of history as she assisted the Darkling in his attempt to control and harness Alina's power. But Genya was manipulated by the villain and is already horrified by the things that she's done. If the show follows the arc of the books then Genya's role will expand when Season 2 hits screens. Head is a bit of a genre superstar with roles in films like Fallen, Wrong Turn, and Underworld: Blood Wars. She'll also be playing the mysterious and dangerous villain in the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons movie.
Luke Pasqualino is David
Though fans only met him briefly in Season 1, David has a large part to play. He's a Grisha known as a Durast, which means he can manipulate solids at a molecular level. Viewers saw this in Season 1 when he created Alina's stag collar. His relationship with Genya will only grow when Shadow and Bone returns, shaping his future. Pasqualino began his career in the cult UK series Skins, and has popped up on screens in things like Snowpiercer, The Borgias, and more.
Sujaya Dasgupta is Zoya Nazyalensky
One of the most interesting things about casting a show like Shadow and Bone comes in characters like David and Zoya. Both seem to be minor characters but have larger roles to play in the future of the franchise, especially Dasgupta's regal Grisha. Once deeply loyal to the Darkling, she ultimately saw him for who he was as Season 1 came to an end. Originally introduced as a Grisha mean girl, Zoya has hidden depths that we'll see explored in the new season. If you recognize her it might be from Ghosts, I May Destroy You, Guilt, and Shantaram.
Zoe Wanamaker is Baghra
Though she's last on our list she's far from the least important addition. British acting legend Zoe Wanamaker — who you know from other great fantasy series like Harry Potter and Gormenghast — plays General Kirigan's mother and combat expert Baghra. Though her identity was kept secret through the first season, viewers now know her connection to the Darkling. After helping Alina escape her son's grasp, her fate is unclear. But with Wanamaker confirmed to return, we know that Baghra will be back in some capacity as we enter Season 2.
Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything from anime to comic books to kaiju to kids movies to horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/shadow-and-bone-season-2-cast-and-character-guide