The Witcher on Netflix: everything we know about the TV series

The Witcher on Netflix: everything we know about the TV series
The Witcher TV series arrives on Netflix in December. It is based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, and the first season includes 8 episodes. Henry Cavill, better known as Superman in Man of Steel, plays Geralt of Rivia. He is a mutated supernatural monster hunter, who finds himself caught between two warring human nations: the Nilfgaardian Empire and the Northern Kingdoms. The Witcher on Netflix features a fantastical setting - there are elves, dwarves, and an array of incredible monsters - but it is nonetheless rich with human and relatable stories. Wondering exactly when The Witcher will be released on Netflix? Read below and we'll tell you. Don't call it a Game of Thrones rip-off, though, with at least one Witcher actor, Royce Pierreson, claiming that the comparisons lack the series' unique flavor (via Digital Spy). We also have a prequel show on Game of Thrones that still scratches this itch...

When is The Witcher on Netflix?

The Witcher will hit Netflix worldwide on December 20, with eight episodes released at the same time. Netflix generally removes broadcasts at Midnight Pacific / 3AM Eastern.

The Witcher season 2 is official

I'm very happy to announce: Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri will be back for more adventures... in the second season, I couldn't be more proud of myself and the actors. The Witcher team has made it and can't wait for everyone to dig and enjoy these stories with us. ❤️⚔️? pic.twitter.com/evWoHvUl1e13 November 2019 The Witcher has already been renewed for a second season. Ahead of its renewal, showrunner Lauren Hissrich discussed the idea that the show could run for several years, so she can watch many of The Witcher seasons on Netflix next. "We don't have a second season yet, God willing, but right now it's about, 'How can you create stories that really capture audiences for years to come? ? Hissrich said at the time. "The worst thing we can do is put all our energy into the first season and not think about where these characters can grow."

Cut to the hunt:

The Witcher on Netflix Trailers: Watch the latest trailer for the show

The final trailer for The Witcher gives you an idea of ​​what the show will look like before the full release. Check it out below: In the meantime, here's the first trailer for The Witcher posted by Netflix. Try not to be too excited: Netflix Italy has released a shorter trailer, as can be seen below. It's only 16 seconds long and jumps between shots pretty quickly, but if you want to see Cavill as Geralt again, giant spiders, and some of the fantastic medieval settings, that's 16 seconds of gold. Pure witch. or money

Witcher Series Cast and Crew Announcements: Henry Cavill & More

It is a prestigious production. The showrunner is Daredevil and The Defenders writer Lauren Schmidt and Hissrich Cavill bring measured star power to the role of Geralt: a stoic, suspicious and refreshing hero, exploring a world that struggles to attract him. ; accept. Cavill is also a huge fan of the series. Apparently, he called his agent every day until the role was confirmed (via Vulture).

(Image credit: Netflix) The author of the series, Andrzej Sapkowski, is also a creative consultant. Also, Tomas Baginski from CD Projekt Red is directly involved in creating video games. He is destined for captivating cinematics at the beginning of all three titles. At least one episode. In terms of characters, whoever reads the book or plays games will recognize many faces.

(Image credit: Netflix) Anya Chalotra stars as Yennefer Vengerberg, an energetic, independent magician and longtime lover of Geralt; Freya Allan plays Ciri, a witch touched by fate that Geralt takes under her wing; and we even saw Geralt's trusty horse, Roach. (Or at least one of the roaches: Geralt is over 100 years old and gives the same name to each horse; he's been through a few of them.) Dandelion, the bard who documents the events of the story and Geralt's best friend, will also appear, but will use his name in the books: Dandelion. This Polish word actually refers to the buttercup flower, feeling too much of a married princess for this fantastical moody setting.

The Witcher TV series: rumors

As everyone who knows books or games knows, The Witcher is a matter of moral ambiguity. The showrunners promised that the characters we'll hate on our first meeting could become the ones we love later. And even Geralt himself isn't a classic hero: wizards kill monsters for money, not altruism, and the SDCC trailer suggests that currency is all Geralt cares about very early on. Cavill has already mentioned that even though Geralt is a hero, he "he won't treat everyone perfectly." And even the show's catchphrase, "The worst monsters are the ones we create" alludes to certain thematic things: mainly that in this world, having your horse eaten by a griffin is the least of a problem.

(Image credit: Netflix) The narrative description of the story is simply about a monster hunter struggling to find his place in a harrowing and war-torn world. But it's worth remembering that this is based on books, not just games, which could allay fears of a failed video game remake. Based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, the events will take place before the trilogy. But even if you only played games, you will recognize a lot here. We don't know exactly which stories are adapted yet, but based on the trailers and what Hissrich had to say about The Witcher's "disconnected family," it seems like the tumultuous relationship between Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer will be the main focus. There are eight Witcher novels, as well as a host of short stories, and it looks like the series will inspire five books dealing with Geralt's relationship with Ciri. Does this mean there will be no game-specific references? Depends. Hissrich said that if the show runs multiple seasons, we can eventually go to the games, but for now, it takes one season at a time. However, he did confirm that the ever-popular Witcher bathtub from our partner site PC Gamer might be making an appearance. She told San Diego Comic-Con at 10:00: "There's a bathroom, I won't tell you who's in the bathroom, but there is a bathroom."

The production of the television series Witcher.

From a design point of view, it is impossible not to draw inspiration from the games, even if there are some differences. The initial response to Cavill's first test of makeup while Geralt was blending, in particular, the blonde wig made him look more like a creatine-pumped Legolas than the agile character we recognize from the CD Projekt Red series. But it makes more sense to watch. move around in the recent trailers, and Geralt's (apparently very uncomfortable) encrusted mail armor gives the impression that he might be a game drop. All of the armor we did see was not positively received: fans of the game were less sold on the crumpled Nilfgaardian armor seen in the reveal images of the set, with one commenter eloquently describing the soldiers as "sacks with swords." It may look like this to add post-production effects, or it could be the finished product. And then there are Geralt's swords. Or to be more specific, singular. Twitter was more dismayed than usual to learn that Netflix's version of the Blaviken butcher used only one sword, instead of the two he uses in the game (steel for humans, money for monsters). But this, again, is true to source: Geralt has two blades in the books, but keeps the silver sword on his horse, Roach. Afterimages have confirmed – you can see an attractive silver knob glow in the image below:

(Image credit: Netflix) Overall, there are plenty of reasons to be positive. The series will not solve the problem of terrible video game adaptations, because it is not the case. Instead, Hissrich can draw on a wide selection of stories from a fully realized fantasy world. There is currently a fantastic dragon-shaped gap in our TV show; The Warlock may be exactly the thing to fill.