When it was announced that the producers of The Mortal Instruments were rebooting the franchise and taking it to television, I was SO happy. For years, I felt that Cassandra Clare’s bestselling young adult series was a perfect fit for television. The Mortal Instruments is a pretty epic tale that can only be fully appreciated when you give the characters the chance to introduce you to their world and build up to certain narrative points. The movie adaptation didn’t really succeed in doing that, actually proving that Clary’s adventure is much better suited for the TV format.
Therefore, I’ve been closely following the casting announcements for Shadowhunters, which will air on ABC Family and will be produced by McG (The O.C., Chuck, Supernatural), who will also serve as director for the first episode. (If you’re not following McG on Twitter yet, you should; he posts behind-the-scenes pictures from the Shadowhunters set.) I have to say I’m impressed by the cast members they have chosen. All of them look like they fit their roles, and I appreciate how diverse the cast is.
However, for the most part, these actors are unknowns. We may have seen them before, but we can’t say for sure if they’ll convince us as some of our favorite book characters. I decided to take some time to research the main cast to help introduce them to both new and old fans of the Shadowhunter world before the premiere in 2016.
Click NEXT to meet the Shadowhunters main cast members.
Katherine McNamara
Her Biggest Role(s) So Far: Harper Munroe on MTV’s Happyland & Sonya in the upcoming Maze Runner sequel
Last Seen Playing: Kat in ABC Family’s The Fosters
Who She Plays in Shadowhunters: Clary Fray, the show’s main protagonist. Clary gets involved in the world of Shadowhunters when she sees a group of teens take down a demon at a nightclub. Before she knows it, she’s thrust into their world when her mother is kidnapped by an evil Shadowhunter.
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Dominic Sherwood
His Biggest Role So Far: Christian Ozera in Vampire Academy
Last Seen Playing: Taylor Swift’s love interest in the “Style” music video
Who He Plays in Shadowhunters: Jace Wayland, a temperamental Shadowhunter with a secret soft spot for Clary. Jace is The Mortal Instruments’ broody romantic hero/badass. He is the one that helps bring Clary into the Shadowhunter world and train her to be one of them.
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Alberto Rosende
His Biggest Role So Far/Last Seen Playing: Guest starring on CBS’s Blue Bloods
Who He Plays in Shadowhunters: Simon Lewis, Clary’s best friend who has been nursing a secret crush on her for years. Simon cares deeply for Clary, so it’s no surprise that he gets involved in the Shadowhunter world as much as she does.
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Emeraude Toubia
Her Biggest Role So Far/Last Seen On: Emeraude was first runner up in Nuestra belleza latina. She had a host of small roles in telenovelas, but Shadowhunters is undoubtedly her biggest role yet.
Who She Plays in Shadowhunters: Isabelle Lightwood, Jace’s sister-like friend and fellow badass Shadowhunter. Isabelle is a very beautiful and skilled Shadowhunter. She has a strong personality but is fiercely loyal and protective of those she loves.
Matthew Daddario
His Biggest Role So Far/Last Seen Playing: Danny Ladouceur in When the Game Stands Tall
Who He Plays in Shadowhunters: Alec Lightwood, Jace’s best friend, Isabelle’s brother, and a Shadowhunter. They grew up together, train and fight together. Alec just has one little secret: he’s in love with Jace.
Harry Shum Jr.
His Biggest Role So Far: Mike Chang in FOX’s Glee
Last Seen Playing: Paul in Revenge of the Green Dragons
Who He Plays in Shadowhunters: Magnus Bane, the enigmatic and immortal High Warlock of Brooklyn. Magnus comes to Clary and the Shadowhunters’ aid, despite the long-standing animosity between Shadowhunters and Downworlders like him.
Alan Van Sprang
His Biggest Role So Far: Dareios in Immortals
Last Seen Playing: King Henry II in The CW’s Reign
Who He Plays in Shadowhunters: Valentine Morgenstern, the show’s villain and a major threat to the Shadowhunters’ world. He seeks The Mortal Instruments to have the ultimate power to take over the world.
Maxim Roy
Her Biggest Role So Far/Last Seen Playing: Isabelle Latendresse in the TV drama, 19-2.
Who She Plays in Shadowhunters: Jocelyn Fray, Clary’s mother with a secret past. When Jocelyn is kidnapped, Clary must join the Shadowhunters to save her mom before it’s too late.
Isaiah Mustafa
His Biggest Role So Far: Officer Wilkens in Horrible Bosses
Last Seen Playing: Captain Hudson in ABC Family’s Baby Daddy
Who He Plays in Shadowhunters: Luke Garroway, a close family friend of Clary and Jocelyn Fray, who is also a NYPD detective. A recent string of “demonic” murders catches his attention and may lead to revealing some secrets of his own.
Jon Cor
His Biggest Role So Far: Ryan in Saw 3D: The Final Chapter
Last Seen Playing: Vons in Dark Matter
Who He Plays in Shadowhunters: Hodge Starkweather, a professor at New York’s Shadowhunter Institute, who helps train and teach Clary about the Shadowhunters.
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Shadowhunters premieres in 2016 on ABC Family! Will you be tuning in?
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