The first trailer for The Shannara Chronicles season 2 reveals its premiere date on Spike. The television show based on Terry Brooks' young adult fantasy book series first premiered on MTV in early 2016, running for 10 episodes that were largely well received by critics. Adapted for TV by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar - the team behind WBTV's Superman origin series Smallville - Shannara Chronicles earned decent ratings, putting it on par with season 5B of Teen Wolf, one of MTV's other scripted dramas. As a result, season 2 of The Shannara Chronicles was ordered, but it was revealed the show would move from MTV to Spike - a network also owned by MTV parent company Viacom.
Season 1 of Shannara Chronicles followed the half-elf, half-human Wil (Austen Butler), who embarked on a journey to save his home of the Four Lands from an evil force with Elven Princess Amberle (Poppy Drayton) and the human Eretria (Ivana Baquero). Along the way, they received help from a druid named Allanon (Manu Bennett) and Amberle's uncle Ander (Aaron Jakubenko). Now, the trailer for season 2 introduces a group of new characters and confirms the premiere date on Spike.
Related: Shannara Chronicles Season 1 Finale Review
Spike unveiled the first trailer for The Shannara Chronicles season 2 [above] and confirmed it will premiere Wednesday, October 11 at 10pm ET. Season 2 will again feature 10 episodes and will introduce Lyria (Vanessa Morgan), Mareth (Malese Jow), Garet (Gentry White), Queen Tamlin (Caroline Chikezie), and General Riga (Desmond Chiam). Some of these characters are highlighted in the season 2 trailer as well as in the batch of first look images for The Shannara Chronicles' sophomore outing:
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When it first premiered in January 2016, The Shannara Chronicles was part of a trend of YA-based properties finding more success on TV than in film. Freeform's Shadowhunters, Syfy's The Magicians, and The CW's The 100 have all been successful, with the first two confirmed for third seasons while the latter's fifth season premieres at the mid-season point of the 2017-2018 TV season. Shannara Chronicles is somewhat behind these other YA-inspired series due to an extended hiatus between its first and second seasons, but the season 2 trailer promises fans of the show that the wait will be well worth it.
Many wondered what exactly the move from MTV to Spike would mean for Shannara Chronicles, especially in terms of the production values for the high concept fantasy drama. Based on the new trailer, the show seems to have maintained its general look and feel - while additionally offering some new striking visuals. Of course, whether the series will satisfyingly capitalize on the concepts and story from season 1 in addition to developing a new storyline and new characters in season 2 remains to be seen. But, with less than two months until the show returns, fans won't have to wait much longer for The Shannara Chronicles season 2.
Next: Do YA Properties Work Better as TV Series or Blockbusters?
The Shannara Chronicles season 2 premieres Wednesday October 11 at 10pm ET on Spike.
Source: Spike