After almost a year of waiting, a major development has now arrived for the fans of "Shannara Chronicles." The fantasy series produced by MTV is now officially in production for Season 2. Also, the cable network has announced a slew of new cast additions to join the new installment.
MTV announced that "Shannara Chronicles" has recruited five new cast members to its forthcoming second run. They include Malese Jow (The Flash), Vanessa Morgan (Finding Carter), Desmond Chiam (NCIS), Gentry White (UnReal) and Caroline Chikezie (Mayhem)
Jow will play Mareth, the aforementioned young woman who's both volatile and unpredictable -- and possesses magical abilities. Sharp, brash and independent to a fault, Mareth gets what she wants on her own terms (and by any means necessary).
Morgan will portray Lyria, a beautiful and mysterious young woman who's romantically linked to Eretria.
Chiam will play General Rigam, a former top dog in Eventine's army who's now responsible for all the havoc in The Four Lands. After watching his people slaughtered in the War of the Races and fighting the Dagda Mor in the War of the Forbidding, Riga became convinced that the source of all problems in The Four Lands was neither good or evil but magic itself -- and hence became leader of The Crimson.
White will play Garet, a skilled, sly, and charismatic bounty hunter known throughout The Four Lands as "The Weapons Master." Wise-cracking and virile with a roguish charm, the only thing Garet likes more than money is a good fight.
Chikezie will portray Queen Tamlin, the powerful and cunning ruler of Leah, the only human kingdom in The Four Lands. A ruthless weapons manufacturer with a strategic mind and a talent for manipulating people, Tamlin uses her royal clout to solidify a political alliance with the elves.
They join returning cast members e Austin Butler (Wil), Ivana Baquero (Eretria), Manu Bennett (Allanon), Aaron Jakubenko (Ander) and Marcus Vanco (Bandon).
As for the plot details, Entertainment Weekly revealed that "Shannara Chronicles" season 2 will once again show chaos in The Four Lands, now ruled over by King Ander (RIP, Evertine -- we're still cursing that damn Changeling). The reason for the disorder: A re-emergence of magic has citizens terrified, and an organization called The Crimson is hunting down those practicing sorcery and using fear (plus some good old-fashioned intimidation) to plant discord among the races.
But what ever happened, you ask, to half-human/half-elf Wil? Still mourning the loss of his beloved Amberle (again, the woman is now a tree), he's turned his back on his magical destiny and become the healer he always wanted to be. But when a brand-new gal named Mareth saves him from a Crimson attack, Mr. Ohmsford is -- once again -- forced to rejoin the fight.
"Shannara Chronicles" season 2 is slated to premiere sometime this year on MTV.
