Summary
- The previous adaptations of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters books, both the film and TV series, failed to do justice to the source material and the rich fantasy world it offers.
- The failures of the previous adaptations, particularly the divergence from the source material, make it unlikely that there will be a continuation of Clary's story or a faithful adaptation of subsequent books in the series.
- However, there is still potential for a successful adaptation of the Shadowhunters world, particularly by focusing on The Infernal Devices series set in Victorian London, which offers a compelling love triangle and a unique setting that could attract viewers.
Cassandra Clare's best-selling Shadowhunters books received a film adaptation in 2013 and a television series in 2016, but they've yet to get the proper adaptation they deserve. 2013's The Mortal Instruments brought the first book to the big screen, but because of its poor box office performance, it didn't get any sequels to continue Clary Fray's story. Shadowhunters received a longer run, airing for three seasons on Freeform before being canceled. However, even Shadowhunters didn't get the chance fully delve into Clare's rich fantasy world.
With Clare's source material boasting a massive fanbase, it's clear the Shadowhunters novels have the potential for a successful on-screen story. Clare has published five separate series set in the Shadowhunters world, as well as several short story collections. There's plenty of material to draw from, and TV series or movie wouldn't need to strike out on its own. Sadly, the failures of the first two adaptions have more or less ensured The Mortal Instruments won't return to the screen. However, there's still a way a movie or show could revisit this world — and get better results than City of Bones and Shadowhunters.
Shadowhunters Deserved A Better Adaptation Than The 2 It Got
When it comes to page-to-screen adaptations, both The Mortal Instruments movie and the Shadowhunters show provide great examples of what not to do when bringing a popular book series to life. While The Mortal Instruments sticks closely to Clare's first book at the beginning of its two-hour run, it quickly goes off the rails. The film rushes past important plot elements from City of Bones, and it attempts to squeeze details from the later Mortal Instruments books into its ending. Its divergence from the source material is likely why it was received so poorly — and it's why there will never be a City of Ashes movie.
Shadowhunters rightfully gets a lot of credit for its well-chosen cast and ability to capture the magic of Clare's fictional world. However, the Freeform series has similar issues to City of Bones, as it inserts its own storylines into the series and alters certain parts of the Mortal Instruments books. With many viewers hoping for an accurate portrayal of Clare's story, Shadowhunters is ultimately a disappointment. At this point, it seems Clary and Jace's story will never get the faithful adaptation it deserves. However, there is one way the world of Shadowhunters can return to the screen.
Shadowhunters Can Still Be Adapted, But It Needs To Move Past The Mortal Instruments
After two failed adaptations, it's hard to imagine Shadowhunters getting a third chance. However, there's a hole in the market for romance-centric fantasy stories, and Clare's books bring an already-established fanbase to any adaptation. Shadowhunters absolutely should get another opportunity to redeem itself. And the next adaptation should move past Clare's Mortal Instrument series and jump right into The Infernal Devices. Set in London in the late 1800s, The Infernal Devices serves as a prequel to the Mortal Instruments series. In a lot of ways, the Victorian-era story is better than the original, and it would translate well to the screen.
With period pieces like Bridgerton getting so much attention, there's little doubt a fantasy tale about demon hunters living in Victorian London would draw an audience. The heart-wrenching love triangle at the center of The Infernal Devices would also grab viewers' attention far more than the Jace and Clary relationship. As it's set before The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices could stand on its own fairly easily. It wouldn't have to reference or continue Freeform's Shadowhunters. It could simply build out the franchise without worrying about the baggage from previous projects.