After months of speculation, Netflix has finally revealed who we can expect to see join the cast of the hotly anticipated “Shadow and Bone’, the upcoming adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling fantasy novel of the same name. On 2nd October, Bardugo (who will be serving as executive producer on the series) took to Twitter to announce, “I am so thrilled to begin this adventure with this incredible cast”. Accompanying the message was an official photograph of the show’s primary cast members. So, who can we expect to see as part of the all-star lineup when the show finally hits our screens in 2020? Read on to find out.
Ben Barnes as General Kirigan
Heading up the cast as General Kirigan is the British actor, Ben Barnes. Barnes began his career in musical theater, spending several years as part of the National Youth Music Theatre before landing his first professional acting gig as a drummer in the West End musical adaptation of Bugsy Malone. In 2006, he made the transition into TV, and a year later, he made his movie debut in Stardust alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro. Since then, he’s enjoyed a prolific career that’s seen him play everyone from Billy Russo in the Netflix series, The Punisher (2017-2019), to Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia (2008), to Thomas “Tom” Ward in Seventh Son (2014).
Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov
Starring as Alina Starkov is Jessie Mei Li. Shadow and Bone will mark Li’s biggest role on TV to date, although theater goers will already be well aware of her talents from her stand out performance in Ivo van Hove’s All About Eve at the Noel Coward Theatre. Next year will also mark her movie debut as she takes center stage in Edgar Wright’s psychological horror film, Last Night in Soho.
Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker
26-year-old actor and filmmaker Freddy Carter will be taking on the role of Kaz Brekker. Carter got his start in the business as a soldier in the DC Comics film, Wonder Woman (2017). Shortly after, he landed the lead role of Peter “Pin” Hawthorne in the Netflix series Free Rein, and has since starred in the main role of Tom in the Channel 5 miniseries 15 Days and the recurring role of Jason Ripper in American DC Comics series Pennyworth.
Amita Suman as Inej
Amita Suman (who’ll be starring as Inej) graduated from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) in 2018 and has since established herself in the industry with appearances as Nina Biswas in the long-running BBC One medical drama Casualty, Sameera in the second series of the Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge, and Umbreen in Doctor Who.
Kit Young as Jesper Fahey
Starring as Jesper Fahey in British actor, Kit Young. A graduate of acclaimed acting school R.A.D.A, Kit Young’s career has so far centered on the stage. Credits include The Extraordinary Cabaret Of Dorian Gray at the Underbelly Theatre, The Real Thing at Theatre Royal Bath, Julius Caesar at The Bridge Theatre, The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie at Donmar Warehouse Theatre, Macbeth at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Bridge Theatre. He’s also appeared in the Dylan Holmes Williams directed short, The Devil’s Harmony.
Archie Renaux as Malyen Oretsev
Tackling the character of Malyen Oretsev is English actor Archie Renaux. While Shadow and Bone may be Renaux’s biggest role to date, he’s already built up an impressive body of work thanks to a starring role as Kai in Neil Burger’s upcoming feature film ‘Voyagers’ as well as a lead in BBC One’s 6-part drama series ‘Gold Digger’. Other credits include Zero, Feline, Moribus (the upcoming Marvel movie starring Jared Leto) and Hanna, a coming of age drama starring Esme Creed-Miles, Mireille Enos, and Joel Kinnaman .
Sujaya Dasgupta as Zoya Nazyalensky
Joining the cast as Zoya Nazyalensky is the British actress Sujaya Dasgupta. Dasgupta has been busy picking up rave reviews for her stage work this year (her performance in A Thousand Splendid Suns at Northern Stage in Newcastle won her the praise,“Sujaya Dasgupta does well to present the youthful, girly teenager who we see grow into a weary, grown mother and who somehow manages to stop the flame of hope from going out completely despite her husband’s best efforts. It is a difficult combination to juggle and the actor does well,” from Write Out Loud while her TV credits have also been building up nicely ever since she graduated form the Central School of Speech and Drama in 2015, with highlights including appearances in Press, The Good Karma Hospital, Guilt and Casualty.
Danielle Galligan as Nina Zenik
Irish actress Danielle Galligan, a graduate of Ann Kavanagh Young People Theatre and The Lir Academy in Dublin, will be taking on the role of Nina Zenik. Prior to her casting in Shadow and Bone, Zenik was best known for her scene-stealing performance as Sarra in the eighth season episode of Game of Thrones “The Last of the Starks”. She’s also enjoyed roles in Beautiful Youth (2018), Stranger in the Park (2018), and Pernicio (2018).
Daisy Head as Genya Safin
Daisy Head, the youngest daughter of Anthony Head (famed for Buffy The Vampire Slayer and a very sultry line of 1980s Nescafe ads) takes on the role of Genya Safin. The 28-year-old actress is currently best known for her performances as Amy Stevenson in BBC One’s drama The Syndicate, Grace in the American drama series Guilt, Kate Bottomley in the third season of Harlots, and Christina in the 2018 romantic drama film Ophelia, which also stars Star Wars actress Daisey Ridley.
Simon Sears as Ivan
Completing the cast as the character of Ivan is perhaps the most experienced actor of the lineup, Danish actor Simon Sears. The father of two is best known for his performance as Christian in the award winning Scandi drama Ride Upon the Storm (2017), Winter Brothers (2017) and Follow the Money (2016).
