News

James Norton is hard at work on his new Netflix series!

The 39-year-old Happy Valley actor sported fake blood on his head as he filmed scenes for the upcoming House of Guinness series on Monday (November 25) in Liverpool, England.

According to Deadline, the series is “billed as an epic story inspired by The Guinness family, a European dynasty made famous by the drink they brew. Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York, the story reimagines the period immediately after the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the far-reaching impact of his will on the fate of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, as well as on a group of Dublin characters who work and interact with the phenomenon that is Guinness.”

The cast also includes Jack Gleeson, Louis Partridge, Anthony Boyle, Emily Fairn, Fionn O’Shea, Seamus O’Hara,...

Eleven-year-old Bobby (Cillian Sullivan) may be living on a housing estate in Dublin, in 1984, but he’s got big dreams of following in the footsteps of his telly hero Kojak and becoming a master detective. First of all, he aims to save up for the fedora, and in order to do that, he takes on crimes around the neighbourhood, locating lost property for pennies with his not-always-willing best pal and sidekick Nell (Naoise Kelly). “You’ve always got a plan. You always get in trouble.” she points out as she negotiates a rate to join him on his latest escapade.

What starts off as child’s play in Brian Durin’s atmospheric debut, scripted by Cara Loftus, soon becomes considerably darker, after the family telly goes AWoL shortly followed by Bobby’s older brother Oisin (Lewis Brophy). Things in Bobby’s small household between mum Maura (Danielle Galligan), dad John...

Jack Gleeson appeared on Game of Thrones for four seasons as boy king Joffrey Baratheon, a character so vile and loathsome that fans universally cheered when he was poisoned to death at his own wedding. Gleeson became famous off the back of that role, but being best known as a preening, sadistic jackass probably isn't the kind of famous most of us would like, which might be part of the reason Gleeson laid low for a while after he exited the series. We can only imagine the kinds of asshole roles he was being offered.

Now that Game of Thrones has been over for years, Gleeson is getting back into the acting game, which is good news for us because he's a talented guy. He'll appear in the second season of The Sandman next year, and has also joined the cast of Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight's new show House of Guinness,...

Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s Dreamers and Brian Durnin’s Spilt Milk are among the nine feature films and documentaries taking part in the fourth edition of the BFI London Film Festival works-in-progress showcase.

Dreamers is the directorial debut of Gharoro-Akpojoto, producer of Blue Story and Boxing Day and is in post-production. Ronkę Adékoluęjo stars in the love story set in a detention centre, produced by Emily Morgan’s Quiddity Films, with backing from BBC Film and the BFI. The Yellow Affair by Newen Connect represents sales.

Spilt Milk is Dublin filmmaker Brian Durnin’s first film. It follows an 11 year-old boy...

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If you are a fan of the fantasy genre then you must be aware of the sub-genre, dark fantasy which uses a blend of horror, dark themes, and supernatural elements. Dark Fantasy has become one of the most popular genres in television after the release of shows like Game of Thrones, which at one point was one of the best shows ever made. That’s why we decided to compile a list of the best dark fantasy shows you can find on Netflix right now.

Interview with the Vampire Credit – AMC

Interview with the Vampire is a dark fantasy gothic horror drama series developed by Rolin Jones. Based on The Vampire Chronicles by author Anne Rice, the AMC series follows the life story of vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac as he tells it to veteran journalist Daniel Molloy,...

Because of six seasons of brilliant television, The Sopranos earned millions of fans and a ton of critical acclaim. The HBO series had everything going for it with its exceptionally well-written and rich characters and captivating storylines and recently an equally brilliant prequel film The Many Saints of Newark, which came out in 2021 and gave all of the original series fans something more from the Sopranos world. So, if you loved the witty dialogues, compelling characters, and thrilling stories here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Gangs of London Credit – AMC+

Gangs of London is a British action crime thriller drama series created by Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery. Based on a 2006 action-adventure open-world video game developed by London Studio, the AMC+ series is set in a crime-filled London as a bloody power struggle between the international gangs begins after the head of London’s most powerful...

After airing on Rte in Ireland last September, all six episodes of the darkly comedic crime drama Obituary made their way over to the Hulu streaming service in November. Now, Variety reports that Obituary season 2 has been given the greenlight and, like its predecessor, is expected to consist of six episodes.

Written by Ray Lawlor (Le Ceangal) and directed by John Hayes (Dublin Murders) and Oonagh Kearney (Vardy vs. Rooney), Obituary has the following synopsis: 24-year-old Elvira Clancy is feeling a little unfulfilled, although she adores her new job writing obituaries, but when her newspaper falls on hard times and her boss cuts her salary, she finds herself being paid per obituary overnight. When she “accidentally” kills a nasty piece of work in the town, she discovers she might have a previously untapped bloodlust!

She relishes using ever more crafty methods to kill off the town’s unpleasant residents while making them look like accidents.

Irish comedy “Obituary” is prepping for a second season, Variety has learned.

The popular black comedy, which features Siobhán Cullen as an underpaid obituarist who turns to murder, is written by Ray Lawlor.

The plan is for Season 2 to run to six episodes, Variety understands, with Lawlor returning to helm the script. The show’s original producers — Magamedia and Apc Studios — are once again involved, while Hulu is contributing funding.

Casting hasn’t yet been confirmed but it seems unlikely the show would return without lead star Cullen, who has also recently appeared in “The Dry” and Netflix series “Bodkin.”

The first season of “Obituary,” which aired on Irish network Rte, followed Cullen as obituary writer Elvira Clancy, who takes matters into her own hands when her work begins drying up. Soon a crime correspondent at the local paper starts investigating the murders — and falling for Clancy.

Michael Smiley (“Bad Sisters...

Una serie sobre la dinastía de la icónica cerveza.

“House of Guinness”, la nueva serie creada y escrita por Steven Knight, el creador de “Peaky Blinders”, ha comenzado su rodaje y ya conocemos el reparto completo.

La serie se presenta como una historia épica inspirada en la familia Guinness, una dinastía europea que se hizo famosa por la bebida que elaboran. Ambientada en el Dublín del siglo Xix y en Nueva York, la historia reimagina el periodo inmediatamente posterior a la muerte de Sir Benjamin Guinness, el hombre responsable del extraordinario éxito de la fábrica de cerveza Guinness, y las trascendentales repercusiones de su testamento en el destino de sus cuatro hijos adultos, Arthur, Edward, Anne y Ben, así como en un grupo de personajes dublineses que trabajan e interactúan con el fenómeno que es Guinness.

La serie está protagonizada por James Norton (“Mujercitas”), Jack Gleeson (“Juego de Tronos”), Niamh McCormack...

Netflix’s House of Guinness has brewed its cast.

James Norton and Jack Gleeson have been named among the cast for Steven Knight-penned Guinness factory drama series.

Joining them are Niamh McCormack, Anthony Boyle (Masters of the Air, Manhunt), Louis Partridge (Pistol, Enola Holmes), Emily Fairn (The Responder, Black Mirror: Demon 79), Fionn O’Shea (Normal People, Dance First), Seamus O’Hara (Blue Lights, An Irish Goodbye), Dervla Kirwan (True Detective: Night Country, Smother), Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones, The Long Shadow), Danielle Galligan (Shadow and Bone, Obituary), David Wilmot (Station Eleven, Bodkin) and Hilda Fay (The Woman in the Wall, Spilt Milk).

The series, from Banijay UK’s Kudos, is billed as an epic story inspired by The Guinness family, a European dynasty made famous by the drink they brew.

Masters Of The Air star Anthony Boyle will lead the cast for Netflix series House Of Guinness from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.

Set in 19th-century Dublin, Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn and Fionn O’Shea play the four grown up children of legendary brewer Sir Benjamin Guinness.

The eight-part series has begun production and is produced by Banijay-owned Kudos (This Town). Knight has written and exec produces the project. Tom Shankland directs episodes one to five, with Lebanese director Mounia Akl taking on episodes six to eight. Akl was a Screen Arab Star of Tomorrow in 2016.

The cast also includes James Norton,...

Steven Knight has penned a series about the Guinness family and it has just begun production. More on the project below.

Lately, Steven Knight has been busy prepping the upcoming Peaky Blinders film which is due to start filming this September, but it looks like the British writer has had time to work on other things too.

Netflix has announced today that a new series, titled House Of Guinness, has gone into production with Knight credited as writer, creator and executive producer. As you might guess from the title, the series will look at the family behind one of the world’s most popular breweries.

Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, Fionn O’Shea, James Norton, Niamh McCormack, Seamus O’Hara, Jack Gleeson, Dervla Kirwan, Michael McElhatton, Danielle Galligan, David Wilmot and Hilda Fay will star in the Netflix series, but the streamer hasn’t provided a release window for House Of Guinness quite just yet.

Mayor of Kingstown returns for a brilliant third season with Jeremy Renner returning as the lead after an injury-related break. The Paramount+ series follows the McLusky family, who are a very big deal in their town Kingstown. The series stars Renner in the lead role with Kyle Chandler, Emma Laird, Natasha Marc, Nichole Galicia, Hugh Dillon, Dianne West, Necar Zadegan, Tobi Bamtefa, and Taylor Handley starring in supporting roles. So, if you love the family drama, crime thriller, and political navigation in Mayor of Kingstown here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Yellowstone (Peacock & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Paramount+

Yellowstone is a neo-western thriller drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. The Paramount Network series follows the story of the Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in America as they deal with internal and external problems to protect their property and keep the family together.

Gangs of Galicia (Clanes) is a Spanish crime drama series directed by Roger Gual from a screenplay by Jorge Guerricaechevarría. The Netflix series is based on true events and it follows the story of Ana, a successful lawyer as he moves to the small town of Cambados in Galicia where she gets involved with Daniel, the son of a dangerous drug trafficker and the leader of the Padín clan. Gangs of Galicia stars Clara Lago and Tamar Novas in the lead roles with Chechu Salgado, Xosé A. Touriñán, Melania Cruz, Francesc Garrido, Miguel de Lira, and Diego Anido starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the crime thriller and family drama aspect of Gangs of Galicia here are similar shows you could watch next.

Iron Reign (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Iron Reign is a Spanish crime thriller miniseries directed by Lluis Quiliz from a screenplay by Quilez, Arturo Ruiz Serrano,...

Foxtel/Binge Topper Amanda Laing Exiting

Foxtel and Binge’s Chief Commercial and Content Officer Amanda Laing has resigned and is exiting later this year. She joined the Australian TV giant in 2018 and has overseen the launch of streamer Binge, which is behind worldwide comedy hit Colin From Accounts. No word on her next move, but in a statement Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany paid tribute to Laing, saying she has “led dozens of negotiations with US studios for content and channel acquisitions, as well as supported the business as a leading executive on our sports rights deals.” Laing said it had been “privilege to work across both sport and entertainment.” She will remain with the company until September to ensure “a smooth transition of leadership.”

Hulu’s Irish Comedy-Drama ‘Obituary’ Travels

Dark Irish comedy-drama series Obituary has landed on a host of networks around the world. The six-part RTÉ series,...

Cillian Murphy obtained one of acting’s most coveted achievements when he won an Oscar for his leading role in “Oppenheimer.” But his award season run for the acclaimed Christopher Nolan film didn’t end with his big night at the Dolby Theater. The Irish actor went on to receive his home country’s highest acting honor on Sunday at the Irish Film and TV Academy Awards when he won the Lead Actor — Film category for “Oppenheimer.”

The ceremony honored the best Irish film and television of 2023, with Pat Collins’ “That They May Face the Rising Sun” winning Best Film. Other notable winners included Paul Mescal taking Supporting Actor for “All of Us Strangers” and Alison Oliver winning Supporting Actress for “Saltburn.”

Keep reading for a complete list of winners from the 2024 Irish Film and TV Academy Awards.

Best Film

“Double Blind”

“Flora and Son”

“Lies We Tell”

“Lola”

“That They May Face the Rising Sun...

Fresh from his Academy Award win for best actor, “Oppenheimer” star Cillian Murphy now has a chance to claim the same honor at his local awards.

The Irish Film and TV Academy (IFTA) has unveiled the nominees for its 2024 awards, with Murphy going up against “Saltburn’s'” Barry Keoghan and “All of Us Strangers” star Andrew Scott in the best actor category. Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley (“Fingernails”) and Saoirse Ronan (“Foe”) are among those nominated for best actress, while Paul Mescal (“All of Us Strangers”) and Kenneth Branagh (“Oppenheimer”) are in the running for best supporting actor.

But it was actually Irish features leading the pack of nominees, with Lisa Mulcahy’s “Lies We Tell” landing 13, followed by “That They May Face the Rising Sun” and “Double Blind.”

The IFTAs ceremony will be take place on April 20 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre with Irish TV personality Baz Ashmawy on hosting duties.

Nominations are out for the 21st Irish Film & Television Awards with Lisa Mulcahy’s thriller Lies We Tell leading the pack on the feature side at 13, and crime drama Kin heading up the TV fields with 11 (scroll down for the ful list of nominees). The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) will hand out its prizes on April 20 in Dublin.

Alongside Lies We Tell in the Best Film category are Double Blind, Flora and Son, Lola, That They May Face the Rising Sun and Verdigris. Each of those films also scored a mention for their directors.

In what was a banner year for Irish talent, there are several awards season notables vying for Best Actor as well, including Oppenheimer Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan and All of Us Strangers’ Andrew Scott.

The Best International Film race includes All of Us Strangers, Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Poor Things, Saltburn and The Holdovers.

Lies We Tell, with 13, That They May Face the Rising Sun and Double Blind, with 11 each, are leading the nominations for the movie portion of the Irish Film & Television Awards 2024.

Lies We Tell is about an orphaned teenage heiress in 19th-century Ireland who is forced to embrace the dark legacy of her family when she becomes the ward of an uncle determined to marry her off. Rising Sun is an adaptation of John McGahern’s novel of passion, war, and migration. Double Blind is a horror film about an experimental drug trial that goes horribly wrong. Andrew Legge’s Lola, a science fiction drama set in 1940, received seven noms on Thursday.

Among the lead acting nominees are such big names as Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott, Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan, Eve Hewson, and Jessie Buckley. The best supporting film actor category, meanwhile, includes Kenneth Branagh and Paul Mescal.

And...

Kin made a powerful impression on critics and audiences when it debuted in 2021.

From the opening scenes of its premiere episode, the Irish crime drama set itself apart with stunning cinematography, top-tier writing, and a tremendously talented cast.

It's hard to believe that we've been waiting this long for Kin Season 2, but finally, the show is ready to make its highly anticipated return -- and we've got all the details.

Below, we've rounded up everything you know about what's in store for the lawless Kinsella clan!

Kin Season 2 Premiere Date

More than two years have passed since Kin Season 1 wowed AMC+ viewers with its intoxicating blend of drama and action.

At the time, audiences naturally assumed that the follow-up season wouldn't be too far behind.

The series was a big success for AMC+ and Rte in Ireland, but sadly, we're still awaiting a confirmed premiere date.

Kin Season 2 premiered in...

Shadow and Bone is one of five shows cancelled by Netflix earlier this week, and some of those involved with the series have reacted to the news on social media.

Shadow and Bone aired for two seasons on Netflix, with season two arriving in March. Starring Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Danielle Galligan, Daisy Head, Calahan Skogman, Lewis Tan, Anna Leong Brophy, Jack Wolfe, Patrick Gibson, and Ben Barnes, the series follows a young woman (Li) as she deals with having rare powers.

Read More…...

When the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes got underway earlier this year, many Netflix shows were left with fates up in the air.

Now that the strikes are over and Hollywood is getting back to normal, the series won't be making the cut for additional seasons are being revealed.

Deadline revealed Wednesday that Shadow & Bone, Glamorous, Agent Elvis, Farzar, and Captain Fall will not be returning.

Shadow & Bone is the highest profile of the five shows, having made it to a second season.

Despite the freshman season garnering considerable buzz, Shadow & Bone Season 2 launched earlier this year to little fanfare.

Based on the Grishaverse books by Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone Season 2 follows Alina Starkov, who is now on the run.

The series stars Jessie Mei Li (Alina Starkov), Archie Renaux (Malyen Oretsev), Freddy Carter (Kaz Brekker), Amita Suman (Inej Ghafa), Kit Young (Jesper Fahey), Danielle Galligan (Nina Zenik...

All six episodes of the darkly comedic crime drama Obituary will be available to watch on the Hulu streaming service as of Tuesday, November 21st – and with that date just a week away, we have the trailer for the show for you to check out in the embed above.

Written by Ray Lawlor (Le Ceangal) and directed by John Hayes (Dublin Murders) and Oonagh Kearney (Vardy vs. Rooney), Obituary has the following synopsis: 24-year-old Elvira Clancy is feeling a little unfulfilled, although she adores her new job writing obituaries, but when her newspaper falls on hard times and her boss cuts her salary, she finds herself being paid per obituary overnight. When she “accidentally” kills a nasty piece of work in the town, she discovers she might have a previously untapped bloodlust!

She relishes using ever more crafty methods to kill off the town’s unpleasant residents while making them look like accidents.

"If my purpose in life is to kill, I think I'll make some rules." Hulu has unveiled an official trailer for an Irish crime comedy series called Obituary, created by the Irish writer Ray Lawlor from a small West of Ireland town. It'll be out to watch streaming in the US this November. Obituary is a dark comedy in which a small town newspaper falls into hard times and 24-year-old Obituarist Elvira Clancy learns she'll now be paid per obituary. When deaths trickle to a halt and her work dries up, she soon discovers that by murdering the residents of her small town, she will not only earn more money but also discover an untapped bloodlust. Her plans are shaken when she falls for the new crime reporter. "This is a fun, darkly twisted drama that proudly allows me to transport some of the wit and characters I encounter every...

The upcoming "Shadow and Bone: Destinies" role-playing game, from Germany-based Chimera Entertainment, based on the Netflix fantasy TV series, will enable users to play as their favorite characters while traveling through the 'Grishaverse', available in 2023 on Netflix:

"...in a world cleaved in two by a massive barrier of perpetual darkness...   "...where unnatural creatures feast on humans, young soldier 'Alina Starkov' (Jessie Mei Li) uncovers a power that might finally unite her country.    "But as she struggles to hone her power, dangerous forces plot against her.     "Thugs, thieves, assassins and saints are at war now, and it will take more than magic to survive..."

Cast includes Ben Barnes as 'General Kirigan'/'The Darkling', Freddy Carter as 'Kaz Brekker', Archie Renaux as 'Mal Oretsev', Amita Suman as 'Inej Ghafa', Kit Young as 'Jesper Fahey', Sujaya Dasgupta as 'Zoya Nazyalensky', Danielle Galligan as 'Nina Zenik', Daisy Head as 'Genya Safin' and Simon Sears as 'Ivan'.

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2023 Emmy Predictions:

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Weekly Commentary: Commentary to be added in the coming weeks.

Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Primetime Emmy predictions in the major categories.

Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Creative Arts predictions in all categories.

And...

Paul Mescal and Sharon Horgan were among the winners at the Irish Film and Television Awards.

Despite Colin Farrell losing out the best actor award to Mescal, “The Banshees of Inisherin” beat out competitors to win best film. In the international category “All Quiet on the Western Front” took home the top award on Sunday night.

Read on for the full list of winners.

Film Categories

Best Film

“Aisha”

“The Banshees of Inisherin” – Winner

“God’s Creatures”

“Lakelands”

“Róise & Frank”

“The Wonder”

Director – Film

“Aisha” – Frank Berry – Winner

“The Banshees of Inisherin” – Martin McDonagh

“It Is In Us All” – Antonia Campbell Hughes

“Joyride” – Emer Reynolds

“Let the Wrong One In” – Conor McMahon

“Róise & Frank” – Rachael Moriarty & Peter Murphy

Script – Film

“Aisha” – Frank Berry – Winner

“The Banshees of Inisherin” – Martin McDonagh

“God’s Creatures” – Shane Crowley

“Joyride” – Ailbhe Keogan

“Let the Wrong One In” – Conor McMahon

“Róise & Frank” – Rachael Moriarty,...

A backdrop of grizzled drinkers suggests an inevitability for the hedonistic sportsman, unless the return of a familiar face can help him come to terms with his fate

Masculinity in Ireland is, like everywhere else, in a wobbly state – according to this heart-on-sleeve debut feature about a Gaelic footballer too fond of the old craic. Éanna Hardwicke plays Cian, a dairy farmer, amateur sportsman and committed hedonist never slow to hit the pub after training. After roping two pals into yet another nightclub bender, he’s subjected to a brutal alleyway beating that leaves him with concussion and struggling for his bearings in life.

With a laconic quip for every eventuality, Cian won’t open up to those around him – including his agitated dad (Lorcan Cranitch), who is constantly on his case on the farm – or be frank with himself about the fact he is suffering. His standing on the football team,...

The Irish Film And TV Academy (IFTA) have revealed this year’s nominees for the Screen Ireland – IFTA Rising Star award.

The five nominees are Aoife McArdle (Director – Severance), Danielle Galligan (Actor – Lakelands), Daryl McCormack, Éanna Hardwicke (Actor – Lakelands), and Kathryn Ferguson (Director – Nothing Compares).

Previous winners of the IFTA Rising Star Award include Saoirse Ronan, Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, John Michael McDonagh, Sarah Greene, Gerard Barrett, and Jamie Dornan.

Announcing the nominees, the Irish Academy said this year’s group of Rising Stars represents a new “vanguard of the next wave of Irish Screen Talent.”

“Ireland has recently enjoyed a record-breaking year in terms of film and television production. The past year saw Irish directors, writers, producers, cast, and crew create world-class stories that have engaged audiences around the globe,” the statement read.

Selected by a special jury, the winner...

Netflix recently released the second season of Shadow and Bone, a highly-anticipated fantasy series based on a book series by Leigh Bardugo. Though the series can be intense and dramatic, the actors on set are anything but. Two Shadow and Bone actors recently shared a hilarious story about an in-joke they developed after a number of acting mishaps.

Season 2 of ‘Shadow and Bone’ is now streaming Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Jack Wolfe, Danielle Galligan and Calahan Skogman arrive for the “Shadow And Bone” Season 2 premiere I Lisa O’Connor/Afp via Getty Images

Prominent characters in the successful series include General Kirigan, better known as The Darkling, who plays a sinister role in Shadow and Bone. Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter) is the leader of the Crows, a ragtag group of scoundrels and thieves.

Kaz has had to continuously fight for survival, entering season 2 with a vendetta to pursue. With...

Leigh Bardugo has signed with WME for representation, Variety has learned exclusively.

WME will now rep the New York Times bestselling author for film and TV rights services. New Leaf Literary & Media represents Bardugo for publishing and will now co-represent her with WME in all other areas.

Bardugo is best known for writing the so-called Grishaverse novels, which consists of nine books total beginning with the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy. Her books have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and have been translated into nearly 50 different languages.

Netflix currently airs the series version of “Shadow and Bone,” which is based on the three books of the trilogy as well as Bardugo’s “Six of Crows” duology. The cast of the series includes Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Danielle Galligan, Calahan Skogman, and Ben Barnes. The series launched on Netflix in April 2021 and was renewed...

The "Shadow and Bone" universe is lush with magic, from bursts of light that shoot out of characters' hands to ancient swords that can cut through seemingly indestructible shadows. In the world of "Shadow and Bone," though, these powers aren't actually called magic - they're instead referred to as the "small science," or the art of manipulating matter, and the characters who practice it are called Grisha.

There are three main categories of Grisha - the Corporalki, Etherealki, and Materialki - and each is broken down into subsets, such as Inferni, who can manipulate fire; Heartrenders, who can control people's internal organs and can also detect when people are telling the truth; and Durasts, who can bend and move metals with their minds. But in the real world, the "Shadow and Bone" cast have differing opinions on which powers are most covetable.

For Patrick Gibson, who stars as Sturmhond in the show's second season,...

The good ol' Grishaverse returns in Netflix's "Shadow and Bone" season 2, an adaptation of author Leigh Bardugo's young adult fantasy adventure novels. Starring Ben Barnes, Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddie Karter, Kit Young, Amita Suman, Danielle Galligan, and Calahan Skogman, among others, the series tells the story of a country divided by the Shadow Fold, a path of unnatural darkness that is home to gnarly, flesh-eating monsters. As Alina Starkov (Mei Li) discovers the once-dormant magic she possesses that makes her a Grisha, she endeavors to tear down the Fold — but it's not easy when its creator is working equally hard to expand it.

In season 2, we meet many new characters, perhaps the most fascinating being Patrick Gibson's Sturmhond/Nikolai Lantsov. The 27-year-old Irish actor nails the role; it's like watching the character jump off the book's pages and onto the screen. He's charming, he's persuasive,...

This article contains spoilers for season 1 of Shadow and Bone

Season 1 of Shadow and Bone introduced us to the expansive world of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse and its large cast of characters. Like any good fantasy world, Shadow and Bone gives us many characters to root for, and others to root against. Season 2, which premiered on Netflix March 16, is poised to be even bigger with Alina struggling to bring new and old allies together to take down the Fold once and for all. Here are the Grishaverse characters you can expect to see this season and how they fit into the story.

Jessie Mei Li is Alina Starkov

Alina Starkov was a mapmaker for the First Army before discovering that she was a rare Grisha known as the Sun Summoner. Going from humble beginnings to instant saint status left Alina trying to find the balance between her old life and...

The latest season of Netflix's "Shadow and Bone" just dropped, in which the Crows of Ketterdam play a major role in assisting the Sun Summoner Alina Starkov (Jesse Mei Li). Series showrunner Eric Heisserer has taken an unorthodox route when it comes to adapting Leigh Bardugo's fantasy novel series by combining the storylines of the "Shadow and Bone" trilogy and "The Six of Crows" duology, leading to a complex, intertwining story that directly impacts the fate of the Grishaverse. As the Crows have emerged as one of the strongest aspects of the Netflix adaptation, Heisserer has been quietly developing a "Six of Crows" spin-off series, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Bardugo's duology exclusively focuses on the Crows, who are forced to take up a perilous mission after a drug named jurda parem is on the verge of being circulated across Kerch. The implications of this drug falling into the...

Fans quickly fell for the cast of "Shadow And Bone" when the show first premiered on Netflix in 2021, and now that the fantasy series is back for a second season, there are even more characters to love as four new stars have joined the cast. Lewis Tan has signed on as Tolya Yul-Bataar; Anna Leong Brophy as Tamar Kir-Bataar; Patrick Gibson as Nikolai Lantsov; and Jack Wolfe as Wylan Hendriks. They join original cast members Jessie Mei Li (Alina Starkov), Ben Barnes (General Kirigan), Freddy Carter (Kaz Brekker), Amita Suman (Inej Ghafa), Kit Young (Jesper Fahey), Archie Renaux (Malyen "Mal" Oretsev), Danielle Galligan (Nina Zenik), Sujaya Dasgupta (Zoya Nazyalensky), and Calahan Skogman (Matthias Helvar).

Showrunner and executive producer Eric Heisserer shared a breakdown of what viewers can expect from the upcoming season in an interview with Netflix's Tudum in March, confirming that the new characters will play a big part in the plot.

Strip away all the CGI smoke monsters and cultural pastiches and invented languages from “Shadow and Bone” and it’s still, at its heart, a tale of Chosen One vs. Dark Lord. Now in its Season 2, the Netflix series is the kind of handsomely made fantasy epic that networks could once build a whole lineup around. There’s a dense mythology of lore and palace intrigue and a love triangle or two for good measure. The show debuted in early 2021 in the midst of a TV world still dotted by question marks and pointed to a possible future for effects-driven literary adaptations.

But for all its heroes and villains linked by destiny — living saint Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) mentally communicating with her sworn enemy the Darkling (Ben Barnes) — and CGI centerpieces — a massive dark-matter entity called The Fold that divides an entire nation in two — there’s a better...

Image Source: Netflix

If the end of "Shadow and Bone" season two surprised you, you're not alone. After two seasons of dramatic buildup, season two brings the story's central plot line to an abrupt conclusion - though of course, it adds more than enough intrigue to the very end of the show to lead to a third season.

By the end of "Shadow and Bone"'s second season, it seems like things have worked out well for the good guys. After a long and bloody fight, light has triumphed over shadow, the Fold is gone, and Alina has killed General Kirigan. For Jessie Mei Li, who plays Alina, the season two finale was an incredible moment for her character. "I was so excited. I was really excited 'cause it is different from how it goes in the books," Li tells Popsugar of the show's ending. "I was thrilled, especially, to see what happens to Alina.

“Shadow and Bone” showrunner Eric Heisserer has already assembled a writers room to plan for a potential “Six of Crows” spinoff series, which he hopes could follow Season 2 of the Netflix fantasy show.

The first two seasons of “Shadow and Bone” adapt both the trilogy of the same name by Leigh Bardugo and the “Six of Crows” duology set in the same universe, coralling characters from both books together. Season 2 continues to adapt “Shadow and Bone,” but the finale sets the stage for a bigger plot from the Crows side of things.

“The story of ‘Six of Crows’ is a heist in the Ice Court, which is deep in Fjierda and it is around a sacred holiday of theirs called Hringkälla,” Heisserer told TheWrap. “The whole book of ‘Six of Crows’ is devoted to that, and what we’ve done in Season 2 was essentially set that up as the next crow story.

This article contains spoilers for season 1 of Shadow and Bone

Based on Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels, Netflix’s fantasy series Shadow and Bone is set in a world where a shadowy vale full of monsters known as The Fold divides the land. The country of Ravka suffers the most from this division. Not only is the country split in half by The Fold, but other countries like Fjerda and Shu-Han have used The Fold as an excuse to declare war on Ravka. Because of threats from The Fold and outside it, East and West Ravka put a lot of resources into their military – the First Army made up of humans and the Second Army made up of matter manipulators known as Grisha.

Shadow and Bone follows Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) as she discovers powers she didn’t know existed and learns that she might be the key to...

Shadow and Bone's second season is fast approaching on Netflix.

The show's stars from all parts of the Grishaverse sat down with us and gave us the scoop on the new season!

The cast got separated into three different groups, and the first group featured three of the newest cast members: Lewis Tan, Anna Leong Brophy & Patrick Gibson.

The three play Tolya Yul-Bataar, Tamar Kir-Bataar, and Nikolai Lantsov, respectively. The three actors gave us the lowdown on their characters throughout the second season!

These interviews have been edited for clarity.

TV Fanatic: For all three, but mainly Anna and Lewis: How do you think your [characters'] relationship with Alina aligned with the book/each other being Shu like she is?

Anna: I think we have an immediate understanding of when we meet of her predicament. She's also someone caught between two worlds. I think that's a theme often explored in the Grishaverse,...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Ted Lasso, Scream 6 and House of the Dragon.

Scream 6 premiere

The latest Ghostface flick premiered in NYC on Monday with stars Courteney Cox, Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, and Jack Champion. Several of the stars of Scream 5 also came out to support, including Jack Quaid and Dylan Minnette.

Devyn Nekoda, Liana Liberato, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega and Courteney Cox Dylan Minnette, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Devyn Nekoda, Jack Champion, Tony Revolori, Liana Liberato, Melissa Barrera and Jack Quaid Spyglass Media Group’s Peter Oillataguerre and Gary Barber

Ted Lasso premiere

Season three of the hit Apple TV+ comedy debuted in L.A. on Tuesday with stars Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham, Phil Dunster, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Cristo Fernández and Toheeb Jimoh,...

“The Banshees of Inisherin,” starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, led the nominations for the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs) as the full list of nominees was unveiled on Monday night local time, picking up 11 nods in the film category.

“Bad Sisters” – Sharon Horgan’s Apple TV+ mystery series – led the pack in the drama category with 12 noms.

Coming off the back of a stellar year for Irish film and television, the nominations include a number of familiar names and titles, including Paul Mescal, who has been nominated for best lead actor in a film for “Aftersun” and best supporting actor in a film for “God’s Creatures” while Farrell is also competing in both categories, both for his star turn in “Banshees” and his supporting role as Penguin in “The Batman.”

“Conversations with Friends” has also scored noms in multiple categories while Aoife McArdle is up for best drama...

Apple’s comedy series Bad Sisters and Martin McDonagh’s latest feature, The Banshees of Inisherin, lead this year’s Irish Film And TV Academy Award nominations (IFTAs). Scroll down for the complete list.

Bad Sisters leads across film and TV with 12 nominations, including Best Drama, Lead Actress (Sharon Horgan), Director (Dearbhla Walsh), and four nods in Supporting Actress for Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Eve Hewson, and Sarah Greene.

The Banshees of Inisherin clocked 11 nominations, including Best Film as well as Best Director and Screenplay for Martin McDonagh. Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan, Brendan Gleeson, and Kerry Condon also pop up in the acting categories.

Irish filmmaker Frank Berry’s latest pic Aisha trails Bad Sisters and Banshees with ten nominations. The film follows a young Nigerian woman, played by Letitia Wright, who struggles to navigate the asylum system in Ireland.

Paul Mescal also picked up two nominations: The first in...

With just a few days until the 2023 Oscars, hot contender The Banshees of Inisherin has been given a boost on home soil.

Martin McDonagh’s period tragicomedy — which has nine Academy Award nominations (an all-time Irish record) — has now landed the most film nods this year for the Irish Academy Awards.

Announced by the Irish Film & TV Academy (IFTA), Banshees has 11 nominations, including best film and, as with the BAFTAs and Oscars, the film has been nominated in all of the performance categories for its main cast of Colin Farrell (who also got a nod for supporting actor for The Batman), Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon. Banshees‘ 11 nominations is the same number in 2022 amassed by Irish-language drama The Quiet Girl, which is now also in contention for an Oscar in the international category.

Further down the list, Frank Berry’s immigration drama Aisha — starring Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor — landed 10 nominations.

Dunin’s feature directorial debut will shoot in Ireland this summer.

Alisha Weir, the young Irish lead of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, is set to star in Brian Durnin’s feature directorial debut Spilt Milk that will shoot in Ireland this summer.

Set in Dublin in 1984, Split Milk follows an 11 year-old boy (still to be cast), who dreams of becoming a great detective like his TV hero Kojak. He sets up a private investigation enterprise with his best friend, played by Weir, but the disappearance of his older brother sets them off down a dark path.

The film will also star Danielle Galligan,...

Shadow and Bone returns next month for its second season, and Netflix has released a trailer teasing the eight new episodes. The fantasy mystery drama is based on the novels by Leigh Bardugo.

Starring Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Danielle Galligan, Daisy Head, Calahan Skogman, Lewis Tan, Anna Leong Brophy, Jack Wolfe, Patrick Gibson, and Ben Barnes, Shadow and Bone revolves around young Alina Starkov (Li), an orphan and assistant cartographer of the Ravka nation's First Army. She discovers that she is the Sun Summoner, a rare and long-awaited Grisha who has the ability to control light.

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Netflix has debuted the trailer for the upcoming season 2 of ‘Shadow and Bone.’

Alina Starkov is on the run. A beacon of hope to some and a suspected traitor to others, she’s determined to bring down the Shadow Fold and save Ravka from ruin. But General Kirigan has returned to finish what he started. Backed by a terrifying new army of seemingly indestructible shadow monsters and fearsome new Grisha recruits, Kirigan is more dangerous than ever. To stand a fighting chance against him, Alina and Mal rally their own powerful new allies and begin a continent-spanning journey to find two mythical creatures that will amplify her powers. Back in Ketterdam, the Crows must forge new alliances as they contend with old rivals and even older grudges that threaten not only their place in the Barrel but their very lives. When a chance at a deadly heist comes their way,...

Netflix has dropped the trailer for the eight-episode second season of “Shadow and Bone.” The second season depicts Alina Starkov, played by Jessie Mei Li, on the run in an effort to bring down the Shadow Fold and save Ravka. However, General Kirigan (played by Ben Barnes) is also back and this time has an army of shadow monsters behind him.

The Season 2 cast includes also includes Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Danielle Galligan, Daisy Head, Calahan Skogman, Lewis Tan, Anna Leong Brophy, Jack Wolfe and Patrick Gibson.

Eric Heisserer and Daegan Fryklind serve as showrunners and executive producers, with Leigh Bardugo as author and executive producer for the series. “Shadow and Bone” is also executive produced by Shawn Levy, Josh Barry, Dan Levine and Dan Cohen for 21 Laps Entertainment, Pouya Shahbazian (Loom Studios) and Shelley Meals.

Season 2 of “Shadow and Bone” premieres March 16. Check out the trailer below.

Alina is embracing her role as the Sun Summoner in "Shadow and Bone" season two. On Feb. 17, Netflix released the official trailer for the new season, and it promises a dramatic confrontation between Alina and the Darkling, while giving fans a glimpse of the new faces they can expect to see in the forthcoming episodes.

Back on Sept. 24, 2022, Netflix released the first teaser for the upcoming season at the global fan event Tudum. In it, Alina rejects the idea that she's just a symbol, Wylan and Nikolai make their big debuts, and the Crows prepare for a fight. That's a good thing, because the Darkling isn't messing around. "Are you willing to sacrifice that which is most precious to you?" he asks in the action-packed trailer.

Netflix's "Shadow and Bone" premiered in 2021, receiving rave reviews from critics and fans alike. Based on the popular book series by Leigh Bardugo, the...