Eric Heisserer and Leigh Bardugo for Shadow and Bone during NYCC

Author Leigh Bardugo sat down to discuss Netflix’s adaptation of the Grishaverse during New York Comic Con. Shadow and Bone showrunner Eric Heisserer joined her.

The adaptation will interweave the characters and stories from Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows series. Heisserer (Arrival) serves as showrunner.

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: we didn’t get a trailer for the series. That’s not a decision from Bardugo and Heisserer, but from the bosses at Netflix. Apparently, the streamer isn’t ready to release one yet.

“We are not giving you the trailer. I wish we could, but that’s not within our power,” Bardugo apologized.

While the lack of trailer is disappointing, Bardugo and Heisserer still had a good time discussing the series. Check out key details from the panel below, including Bardugo’s cameo appearance and a first audio reveal for Shadow and Bone.

Creating the Grishaverse with Netflix

Adapting the Grishaverse to screen had been a longtime dream of Bardugo’s. She actually took  many meetings, but never felt like the companies were a good fit. She said many were too concerned with the franchise opportunity, rather than the chance to tell her story in the best way possible. Eventually, she thought the Grishaverse would never make it on screen.

“We’re not gonna get asked to dance anymore. We’ve said no too many times,” Bardugo recalled.

Netflix's Shadow and Bone cast
Netflix’s Shadow and Bone cast

But then Bardugo met with Heisserer and Netflix and found the right match.

Heisserer had been a fan of Bardugo’s since he made a New Years’ resolution to read more for pleasure, which led him to picking up Six of Crows.

“One of my friends said to me, ‘how would you like to read Ocean’s 11  in a Dickensian, Game of Thrones world?’ And I said, sign me up,” said Heisserer.

Bardugo also acknowledged that a lot of Grishaverse fans were nervous about the Netflix show combining the two book series into one show.

“All I can say is I think [Eric] did a really good job!” Bardugo promised.

Bardugo’s Cameo

During the panel, Bardugo revealed she would make a cameo appearance in the series.

“Wearing a kefta was pretty great. I have never been more tired than that day of shooting. I have so much more appreciation and respect for what actors go through now,” said Bardugo. “Also, I was laced into a corset, so that was intense.”

She wouldn’t reveal the specifics about her role, but teased it comes at an important moment.

“It’s a very big scene, with a lot of people in it,” she hinted.

When Can We Watch Shadow and Bone?

Netflix announced Shadow and Bone finished filming back in February. Unfortunately for eager fans, that doesn’t mean the series is ready to go just yet.

The show requires a good amount of visual effects work, which is still being completed. Heisserer admits the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the post-production process too.

And Bardugo herself jokes her novels don’t make it easy on them.

“I remember writing a scene in Ruining and Rising and thinking, they’re never going to make this. I can do what I want,” she recalled. “So…sorry about that!”

The Grisha Score + More Panel Fun

While we didn’t get a trailer, we did get a small taste of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone. The panel debuted a clip of the official Grisha score, which you can hear about 20 minutes in.

Plus, watch the full panel below to learn more about Bardugo and Heisserer’s early genre influences, waffles on set, and more.