Directed by: Harald Zwart Written by: Jessica Postigo Produced by: Don Carmody, Robert Kulzer Production year: 2012 Original release: August 21, 2013 (USA) Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes Other cast: Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan Misc: IMDB | Amazon | iTunes

In New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager named Clary Fray (Lily Collins) learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters — half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother (Lena Headey) disappears, Clary joins forces with a group of Shadowhunters and enters Downworld, an alternate realm filled with demons, vampires and a host of other creatures. Clary and her companions must find and protect an ancient cup that holds the key to her mother’s future.

Production Images

Trailer

Trivia

• Chris Riggi auditioned for a role
• Kirby Bliss Blanton auditioned for the role of Isabelle Lightwood.
• At around 52 minutes a banner of Harald Zwarts favorite soccer team appears. Fredrikstad Fotball Klubb
• In the book, Clary has red/orange hair, but in the movie, she has dark brown.
• A Fire Inside, aka the band, Afi has a song in the movie in the club scene.
• In the novel, Isabelle is described to have brown eyes and long jet-black hair, but in the film, she has blue eyes.
• In the book, Luke’s pack consists of many members both male and female. In the movie, Luke’s pack is made of only a few men.
• Warner Bros. originally had the rights to The Mortal Instruments. Kulzer speculates that they were looking for the next Harry Potter, but had trouble with the female lead character and eventually let the property go. Kulzer grabbed the rights and took the movie to Sony.
• Lily Collins didn’t meet the author until a few days before filming began.
• In real life, Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower dated in 2013 but broke up before the movie was released. In 2015, they came back together, but broke up soon after.
• In the book, Jace has gold eyes. In the movie, he doesn’t.
• The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) is supposed to take place in 2007, which was the date of the first book’s publication. In the movie, Clary has an iPhone 4, but the iPhone 4 wasn’t released until 2010. The characters should have had first generation iPhones, as no other iPhone models had been released at the time.
• The two lead roles, Clary Fray and Jace Wayland, are played by Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower. Jamie Campbell Bower starred in the ‘Twilight Saga’ franchise and Lily Collins auditioned for the role of Bella Swan before Kristen Stewart was cast.
• In the novel, Isabelle is taller than Clary and than most boys, but in the film, Isabelle is shorter than Clary.
• In the books, The Silent Brothers are described as having a much more gruesome look (eyes removed, mouth sewn shut and scars on each cheek), therefore they talk through minds. Although in the film you sense they are not talking like normal persons, it makes no reference to the fact they do not speak aloud as mouths are sewn shut.
• Valentine had white-blond hair in the book.
• The studio planed for this to be a large franchise like The Hunger Games (2012) or _Twilight_, but due to poor box office, critical reception and fans of the books being disappointed, the idea was scrapped and it was decided for the story to be rebooted for a television series.
• When Clary comes home to find her mother asleep, the background music is the song Jace shows Clary on the piano.
• ABC family announced that the TV show will be called shadowhunters
• Alex Pettyfer was first choice for the role of Jace Wayland, but turned it down. Alexander Ludwig, Xavier Samuel, Nico Tortorella, Leebo Freeman, Max Irons, Ed Speleers, Douglas Booth and Lucas Till, all auditioned for the role but lost to Jamie Campbell Bower
• It has been confirmed that The Mortal Instruments will be turned into a TV series.
• Lily Collins was previously a fan of the books. When she found out that a film was being made, she made numerous phone calls to ensure her role as Clary.

Character Quotes

• Clary Fray: This is the part where you start tearing off pieces of your shirt to bind my wounds.
  Jace Wayland: If you wanted me to take my clothes off, you should have just asked.
• Jace Wayland: Next time, it might be a nice idea to mention that you already have a man in your bed, so we can avoid such uncomfortable situations.
  Simon Lewis: You invited him to bed?
  Jace Wayland: I know, it’s ridiculous, isn’t it? We would never have all fit.
  Clary Fray: I didn’t invite him into bed. We were just kissing.
  Jace Wayland: How swiftly you dismiss our love.
• Clary Fray: You play that piano as if you’ve lost your only love.
  Jace Wayland: Unfortunately, my one true love remains myself.
  Clary Fray: Well, at least you don’t have to worry about rejection.
  Jace Wayland: Not necessarily. I turn myself down occasionally, just to keep it interesting
• [last lines]
  Clary Fray: I just don’t know how to look at the world anymore. I don’t see street and traffic lights and cars. I see demons and angels. Everything’s different.
  Jace Wayland: The world’s the same. You’re the one who’s different.
  Jace Wayland: [starts his motorcycle] Don’t you remember what Hodge said?
  Clary Fray: What?
  Jace Wayland: All the stories are true.
  [they ride off together]
• Clary Fray: How is being dressed like a hooker going to help me find my mom?
  Isabelle Lightwood: Easy now, those are my clothes.
• Clary Fray: [to Dorothea] Wait, you can see this guy?
  Jace Wayland: Of course she can, she’s a witch.
  [pushing their way in]
  Jace Wayland: Downgraded from a gingerbread house to a one-bedroom?
• Clary Fray: If you’d been a real dad, you’d know me well enough to imagine where the Cup is, where my deepest thoughts are taking it. You don’t know the first thing about me. You’re not my dad. And you never will be.
• Clary Fray: This is a top.
  Isabelle Lightwood: It’s a dress.
  Clary Fray: I can’t pull this off.
  Isabelle Lightwood: Well, actually with the right shoes…
  Clary Fray: No. I mean, this dress is so tight, it’s like a second skin.
  Isabelle Lightwood: If you go looking like your mundane self we won’t get within 100 feet of Magnus Bane. He’s the High Warlock of Brooklyn. Stop complaining, come with me.

• Clary Fray: That guy Alec doesn’t like me very much.
  Isabelle Lightwood: That guy Alec is my brother.