Netflix’s fantasy purge is almost guaranteed to set its sights on Shadow and Bone next, and fan fears are mounting as the day of reckoning approaches.
Fans of the series have been fighting for a renewal since its second season dropped, but considering the wealth of quality fantasy content the streamer has already axed, Shadow and Bone’s prospects aren’t looking great.
Just ask Warrior Nun, a far more popular fantasy offering that was canceled late last year. The show’s sky-high viewership numbers weren’t enough to save it from the ax, despite its writers going so far as to outright lie to Netflix in hopes of allowing some fan-favorite scenes to slip by the censors.
Fantasy fans are turning to other streaming options with increasing frequency, as faith in Netflix continues to sour. That allows shows like HBO’s House of the Dragon or Disney’s latest live-action effort, The Little Mermaid, to pull any lingering attention from Netflix, a streamer that — in my humble opinion — is already circling the drain. It may not be Peter Dinklage’s favorite series, but House of the Dragon certainly has more faith behind it than anything Netflix can offer up.
Halle Bailey earns praise from everyone — even Disney vet Dwayne Johnson
Audiences were thrilled to experience Dwayne Johnson’s surprising skill in voice acting — and singing — when Moana first arrived in theaters, so a compliment from the actor is held in high regard. Particularly when it comes to Disney flicks in the vein of the one he helped elevate, which is certainly the case for The Little Mermaid.
Johnson recently posted a reaction to the Halle Bailey-led film to social media, along with a gaggle of the film’s most important audience members — little girls. He and his collection of children had nothing but praise for Bailey’s performance, and the latest Disney Princess was blown away by their kindness. She responded to his heartfelt post with one of her own, thanking the Rock for being “so kind and genuine.”
Peter Dinklage still hasn’t watched House of the Dragon
Peter Dinklage — who played one of the best characters in HBO’s Game of Thrones — has yet to watch the network’s prequel series detailing the Targaryen family history. He admitted in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that — while he harbors no resentment or dislike toward the series — that he’s simply not ready to dive back into the world of Westeros just yet. After nearly a decade committed to the original series, he simply needs a bit of a dragon break, but the talented star assured fans that he’ll join the rest of us in our House of the Dragon viewing eventually.
Warrior Nun’s writers had to lie to Netflix for Avatrice to happen
One of Warrior Nun’s most popular elements — the relationship between Beatrice and Ava — was reportedly almost quashed by Netflix. Considering the platform eventually shut the entire series down anyway, fans have some extra praise for the writers after learning that they simply lied to Netflix to get the green light.
According to David Hayter, Netflix wasn’t on board with the idea of a relationship between the two characters, so writers simply bent the truth a bit. They told the platform that their romance would be implied more than anything, and then turned around and gave fans one of fantasy’s most popular pairings. The revelation quickly prompted #NetflixHatesLove to trend, and sparked a renewed burst of energy among the impassioned Warrior Nun fandom.
Netflix’s official cancelation of Shadow and Bone is looming
We still don’t know for sure if Shadow and Bone will get a renewal for season 3, but — call me a cynic all you want — I’ve got exactly zero faith. The streamer simply has no faith in its own fantasy offerings, and that issue is compounded by its lack of risk-taking and follow-through each and every time it brings a new beloved classic to the small screen.
News that the streamer is prepped to host its next virtual event in mid-June, just a few weeks from now, is sparking widespread expectations that the fate of Shadow and Bone will officially be announced during the event. And, while hopes are still high that the show will get a renewal, actual chances are immensely slim. It might just be time to say goodbye.