In 2016, a lot of new things are happening in the world of TV. ABC Family is changing its name officially to Freeform, Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments premieres on the newly named cabler, and Netflix has recently acquired the global rights to the book-turned-movie-turned-TV-series. After Shadowhunters premieres in the U.S. on Jan. 12, Netflix will begin streaming the episodes internationally a day after they air, starting on Jan. 13. This new deal Netflix does not affect the U.S. In fact, it sounds like the only country Netflix will not be streaming Shadowhunters in is the U.S.
In 2013, the feature film The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones starring Lily Collins premiered, but, despite a strong fan-base, didn’t do well enough in the box-offices to justify a sequel. But the The Mortal Instruments is getting a second chance on the smaller screen.
Shadowhunters is based on bestselling The Mortal Instruments book series by Cassandra Clare. The story follows Clary Fray after her life is turned upside-down after she begins to see things that should not logically exist in the real world. Once her mother, Jocelyn, is mysteriously kidnapped, Clary finds herself joining the ranks of the Shadowhunters, a secret group who keep humanity safe from the dangers they cannot see. As if being a teenager weren’t hard enough, now Clary finds herself facing vampires, demons, and werewolves.
Katherine McNamara (Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials) will star as Clary Fray. Dominic Sherwood (Vampire Academy) joins the cast as the handsome and complicated Jace Wayland. Emeraude Toubia (Tattooed Love) and Matthew Daddario (Delivery Man) will play brother and sister duo Isabelle and Alec Lightwood. Clary’s best friend who has been horribly friend-zoned, Simon Lewis, will be played by Alberto Rosende, and Clary’s adopted uncle-figure, Luke Garroway, will be played by none other than Isaiah Mustafa. (I could list Mustafa’s film credits, but you probably know him best as the guy from the Old-Spice commercials.)
While Netflix will not be streaming Shadowhunters here in the U.S., you will be able to catch it on Freeform beginning on Jan. 12, which gives you plenty of time to read the books if you haven’t done so already.