The Grishaverse series is back, with returning faces and newcomers filling out the cast for season 2.

By Patrick Cremona

Published: Monday, 20 March 2023 at 12:00 am

---

Shadow and Bone fans, assemble: it’s time to return to the Grishaverse with season 2 of the hit Netflix fantasy series.

The second season of Shadow and Bone continues to adapt Leigh Bardugo’s novels, picking up shortly after the events of season 1, with the Sun Summoner herself, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), continuing on her journey to defeat the Shadow Fold.

Mei Li is joined once again by returning cast members Ben Barnes, Archie Renaux and Daisy Head amongst others.

With new stars joining for season 2 including Lewis Tan and Jack Wolfe, there’s never been a better time to reacquaint yourself with the show’s characters and actors.

Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Shadow and Bone.

Shadow and Bone cast: Who stars in season 2 of the Netflix series?

Amita Suman plays Inej Ghafa

Who is Inej? Inej is another member of the Crows in Shadow and Bone, and serves as Kaz’s right-hand woman. She is a trained acrobat of Suli background and is a master spy, with incredible reflexes and knife skills – earning her the nickname The Wraith. Despite her daring nature, she has a strong moral compass, and if ever there is a task that she feels crosses the line, she is unwilling to take it on.

What else has Amita Suman been in? Amita Suman‘s most prominent role so far is playing Naya in the CW fantasy series The Outpost, while she also had a major role in the Doctor Who season 11 episode Demons of the Punjab as Umbreen and appeared in an episode of The Sandman.

Jessie Mei Li plays Alina Starkov

Who is Alina Starkov? At the start of the series, Alina is a shy young orphan who works as a mapmaker in the Ravkan army. But, when she is sent on a mission to cross the Shadow Fold, she unleashes an unbeknownst power that changes everything – and reveals her to be the one of the most powerful Grisha who has ever lived. She is then sent to the capital Os Alta, where she will be trained under the guidance of General Kirigan. In season 2, she is on the run and determined to bring down the Shadow Fold and save Ravka from ruin.

What else has Jessie Mei Li been in? This is Mei Li’s biggest screen role to date, although she did also star in the Edgar Wright film Last Night in Soho.

Archie Renaux plays Malyen ‘Mal’ Oretsev

Who is Mal? Mal grew up in the same orphanage as Alina and has been her long-term best friend, but is separated from her after she is sent away to Os Olta. He is a gifted soldier and is determined to keep his friendship with Alina alive even after they have gone down separate paths.

What else has Archie Renaux been in? Like his co-star Ben Barnes, Renaux starred in BBC One drama Gold Digger in 2019, playing Leo Day. He’s also appeared in one episode of Hanna and in the films Voyagers, Morbius, Catherine Called Birdy and The Greatest Beer Run Ever.

Freddy Carter plays Kaz Brekker

Who is Kaz? Kaz is a member of the Dregs, otherwise known as the Crows – a street gang in Ketterdam. He is the leader of the group, and something of a criminal mastermind, which has made the Crows one of the biggest and most ambitious gangs around. He is sometimes known as Dirtyhands thanks to his willingness to take on any job or mission regardless of how dangerous it might be.

What else has Freddy Carter been in? Carter previously starred as Peter ‘Pin’ Hawthorne on the Netflix drama Free Rein and its two spin-off films, while he has also appeared in three episodes of Pennyworth and in a very minor role in Wonder Woman.

Ben Barnes plays General Kirigan/The Darkling

Who is General Kirigan? General Kirigan, also known as the Darkling, is the head of the Grisha Army and is a mysterious, powerful figure. He is the only person capable of summoning darkness and had become a deeply isolated figure – until he met Alina, who he took under his wing. In season 2, he has returned to finish what he started and now, backed by a terrifying new army of seemingly indestructible shadow monsters and fearsome new Grisha recruits, he is more dangerous than ever.

What else has Ben Barnes been in? Barnes is no stranger to big-budget fantasy, having first shot to prominence as Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia film series. He’s also starred as Logan Delos on Westworld and Billy Russo/Jigsaw in The Punisher, while he played the role of Benjamin Greene on the 2019 BBC One drama Gold Digger.

Kit Young plays Jesper Fahey

Netflix

Who is Jesper? Sharpshooter Jesper is the Dregs’ resident maverick – always up for a joke and prone to the odd gambling binge. When he needs to be relied on, however, he often delivers: he’s famed for his near-perfect aim no matter what the circumstance. He is also secretly a Durast (a form of Grisha), but a childhood trauma stopped him from using his powers.

What else has Kit Young been in? Young has previously appeared in one episode of Endeavour and in the 2022 film The School for Good and Evil.

Daisy Head plays Genya Safin

Netflix

Who is Genya? Genya is one of the Palace Grisha and is placed in charge of shaping appearances. She quickly becomes one of Alina’s best friends and allies in the palace, and is staunchly loyal to the Grisha cause.

What else has Daisy Head been in? Daughter of Anthony and sister of Emily, Head made her small-screen debut at the age of 15 alongside her father in an episode of the ITV series Rose and Maloney. She’s since had main roles in a string of series including US drama Guilt, ITV drama Girlfriends and the third seasons of both The Syndicate and Harlots, while she also appeared in The Sandman and new film Dungeon & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves.

Calahan Skogman plays Matthias Helvar

Dávid Lukács/Netflix

Who is Matthias? A Fjerdan Drüskelle soldier and Grisha-hunter, Matthias captured Nina because his people are suspicious of witchcraft and believe that all Grisha should be destroyed, however, he now resides in a Ketterdam prison. On the surface, he is uptight and not the friendliest, but there’s a softer side to him as well.

What else has Calahan Skogman been in? Shadow and Bone is Skogman’s first major role.

Lewis Tan plays Tolya Yul-Bataar

Dávid Lukács/Netflix

Who is Tolya? Tolya is a Shu warrior and a new character for season 2.

What else has Lewis Tan been in? Tan has previously appeared in films such as Deadpool 2 and Mortal Kombat, while he also appeared in episode of series including Iron Fist and Rush Hour.

Danielle Galligan plays Nina Zenik

Netflix

Who is Nina? A Ravkan Heartrender who lives in Ketterdam and has been known to work with the Dregs, Nina is a loyal and compassionate person – but can also be ruthless when required.

What else has Danielle Galligan been in? Galligan appeared in one episode of the final season of Game of Thrones in 2019, while she’s also appeared in The Great, Krypton and Cold Courage.

Anna Leong Brophy plays Tamar Kir-Bataar

Netflix

Who is Tamar? Tamar is a Shu warrior and a new character for season 2.

What else has Anna Leong Brophy been in? Leong Brophy is a British comedian and actor who has previously appeared in Back, Code 404, Last Tango in Halifax, This is Going to Hurt and Traces.

Jack Wolfe plays Wylan Hendriks

Timea Saghy/Netflix

Who is Wylan? Wylan is a new character for season 2 and a fan favourite from the Grishaverse books. Wolfe told TV Line that in season 2 Wylan will interact with “people and places and situations that exist in the Grishaverse but not directly in his arc in the book”. He also said that he “really tried to take as much as I can from the material that’s already there and apply the things that people like about Wylan, what I like about Wylan.”

What else has Jack Wolfe been in? Wolfe has previously appeared in episodes of Inside No. 9, Father Brown and another Netflix fantasy series, The Witcher.

Patrick Gibson plays Nikolai Lantsov

Dávid Lukács/Netflix

Who is Nikolai Lantsov? Nikolai is a Ravkan prince, who sails around the world going by the name Sturmhond.

What else has Patrick Gibson been in? Gibson is best-known for his roles in series such as The OA and Before We Die, as well as films including Tolkien and Their Finest.

Sujaya Dasgupta plays Zoya Nazyalensky

Netflix

Who is Zoya? Zoya is a powerful Grisha Squaller who has the ability to create storms and does not get on well with Alina – in part because she is jealous of the attention she has been receiving from the Darkling.

What else has Sujaya Dasgupta been in? Dasgupta previously starred alongside Shadow and Bone co-star Daisy Head in seven episodes of Guilt, and has also appeared in Casualty, Press, Shantaram, I May Destroy You and Ghosts.

Luke Pasqualino plays David Kostyk

Netflix

Who is David? David is a Durast who has the ability to manipulate metal, and specialises in research and development. He is the brains behind the second army.

What else has Luke Pasqualino been in? Pasqualino may still be familiar to viewers for his breakout role as Freddie McClair on Skins, while he has since starred in The Musketeers, Our Girl and Shantaram. He’s also been a guest star on both Inside No.9 and Death in Paradise and had a supporting role in Bong Joon-ho’s 2013 film Snowpiercer.

Zoë Wanamaker plays Baghra

Netflix

Who is Baghra? Aside from General Kirigan, Baghra is the only other Dark Grisha left in the world, while she also serves as Alina’s teacher when she arrives at the palace.

What else has Zoë Wannamaker been in? One of the more recognisable faces in the cast, Wanamaker is best known for her roles as Susan Harper in My Family and Madam Hooch in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Other film roles have included Wilde, My Week with Marilyn while on the small screen she’s starred in Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Mr Selfridge, and Girlfriends in addition to BAFTA-nominated turns in Prime Suspect and Love Hurts.

Howard Charles plays The Conductor

Who is The Conductor? This character doesn’t actually appear in Bardugo’s novels, but was introduced solely for the series. His real name is Arken Visser and he is a smuggler, who has previously come to the aid of many Grisha – helping them escape military service by crossing the fold in a special train. He also sometimes goes rogue, most clearly when he attempts to assassinate Alina after agreeing to help the Crows capture her.

What else has Howard Charles been in? Charles’ most prominent credit to date is the role of Porthos in BBC One’s The Musketeers, in which he starred opposite Pasqualino. He has also appeared in Alex Rider, Liar, Top Boy and Whitstable Pearl amongst other series.