Katherine McNamara Praises ‘Shadowhunters’ Fandom For Trying To Save Canceled Show

Since Freeform canceled its sci-fi teen series, “Shadowhunters,” in June, fans have been working hard to save the show. The entire cast, especially star Katherine McNamara, whom International Business Times spoke with at New York Comic Con, has noticed their efforts and has so much appreciation for it all.

In support of #SaveShadowhunters, the fandom has started petitions, sent letters to networks and streaming platforms, bought billboards, flown banners in the sky and raised money for The Trevor Project. Most recently, fans voted for the 2018 People’s Choice Awards with enough write-ins to earn McNamara a nomination for female TV star of 2018, Harry Shum Jr. one for male TV star of 2018 and “Shadowhunters” ones for show of 2018 and bingeworthy show of 2018. The series had already received a nomination for sci-fi/fantasy show of 2018.

“It was a huge surprise,” McNamara told IBT. “When I heard, I was kind of like, ‘Wait, what? What’s going on?’ Because, obviously, we knew ‘Shadowhunters’ was nominated for one category, and now that Harry and I are write-ins and the show’s gained two more categories. It’s, again, just a testament to the ‘Shadowhunters’ fans and to how amazing the fandom is when they really band together.”

On top of all that, people campaigned in person at NYCC and online with #ShadowhuntersTakeNYCC to try to save the much-loved show. While it was canceled a few months ago, the drama, which is an adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s “The Mortal Instruments” YA novel series, still has new episodes left to air. The second half of its third season, which is called Season 3B, will air in the spring 2019 and feature 10 episodes and a two-hour series finale.

Though the network’s wrapping it up, neither the fans nor the cast members are ready to say goodbye for good.

“I don’t think any of us will ever fully close the door until it’s said and done, honestly,” the actress said. “And that’s above my pay grade. I really don’t know. I think anything’s possible, but I’m not really the one to answer that question.”

She continued: “What I can say is that seeing the fandom come together, in a world right now where everyone is so divided and everybody’s on opposite sides and everybody seems to be fighting with each other, to have a group of people from all over the world, from all different walks of life, different age groups, everyone, just such diversity, come together for one thing and to really make their voices heard in a positive way and to make people take notice, in a way that is promoting love and unity and something that’s wonderful in the world, it’s what we need, as human beings.”

McNamara shared that “no matter what happens in the end, we love seeing that, and it’s been the biggest kind of comfort in this time that’s been very bittersweet.”

The actress, who’s set to recur in the upcoming season of The CW’s “Arrow,” has loved her time playing Clary on “Shadowhunters,” which premiered in 2016. The show’s cancellation was hard, but she knows she’ll always carry that character with her as she moves forward in her career and life.

“I would always love to go back to Clary,” she said. “I mean, when you pour so much of yourself into a character for so many years, they become a part of you, and you become a part of them.”

What McNamara wanted to make sure fans knew was just how thankful she is for their support of her, the show, the cast and each other. Whether the show ever finds new life or not, she wants the fandom and that sense of community to continue.

“This has been not fun for any of us and seeing the fans come together has been the most comforting, the most beautiful thing,” she said. “One thing I just really want to reassure people is that even though the show is going the way it’s going, and it’s kind of coming to a close, it doesn’t mean the fandom has to. We’ve created this really beautiful, wonderful, lovely community, and that doesn’t have to end. It can continue to grow, and it can continue to be what it is, as we all kind of move on to other things.”